SoCal Val has hit out at the stigma against the WWE Divas era and branding, claiming it as “anti-feminist”
WWE referred to female Superstars as Divas for years, before retiring the term in 2016.
The Divas era has a stigma among wrestling fans who argue that it set women’s wrestling back, with the use of stipulation matches, and talent with little training.
Speaking to ‘Just Alyx’ Val claimed that there is still a place for the glamorous divas.
“I have no idea why anyone thought that [Diva] was a negative term. A diva, to me, was always a very empowering term.
“With all due respect to AJ Lee and others who are just casually dressed, and are not super-sparkly and glamorous – those aren’t my type of girls. I wanted to be a Torrie [Wilson] or a Sunny, I wanted to do the modeling shoots.”
In 2015, WWE made an effort to change their treatment of female wrestling, ushering in a ‘women’s revolution.
Val explained that the current environment which means that Divas-era attitudes are looked down on is prohibiting women from having a choice in wrestling.
“So the fact that we can’t have both [serious female wrestling and glamorous divas] now, I feel like, is very anti-feminist.
“In the sense that, feminism is about having freedom of choice. And if my choice wasn’t to be an athletic, super serious wrestler, that’s my choice! If my choice was to be sexy and a diva-type, that’s my choice.”
Since the Women’s Revolution, WWE has had women’s matches close out two WrestleManias (35 and 37: Night One.)
Val’s comments come after former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion Melina said she won’t look down on her time as a WWE Diva.
SoCal Val, a former wrestling personality, has recently spoken out against the stigma surrounding the WWE Divas era and branding, labeling it as “anti-feminist.” The WWE, for many years, referred to their female wrestlers as Divas before retiring the term in 2016. However, the Divas era has faced criticism from wrestling fans who argue that it hindered the progress of women’s wrestling by emphasizing stipulation matches and featuring talent with limited training.
In an interview with ‘Just Alyx,’ SoCal Val expressed her belief that there is still a place for glamorous divas in the wrestling industry. She questioned why the term Diva was considered negative, stating that she always found it empowering. Val also mentioned that while she respects wrestlers like AJ Lee who prefer a more casual style, her personal preference was to emulate iconic figures like Torrie Wilson and Sunny, participating in modeling shoots and embracing a glamorous persona.
In 2015, WWE initiated a “women’s revolution” to change their treatment of female wrestlers. However, Val argues that the current environment, which looks down upon Divas-era attitudes, restricts women from having a choice in their wrestling careers. She believes that this limitation goes against the principles of feminism, which advocate for freedom of choice. Val emphasizes that if her choice was not to be an athletic and serious wrestler but rather to embrace a sexy and diva-like persona, it should be respected as her own decision.
It is worth noting that since the Women’s Revolution, WWE has made significant strides in promoting women’s wrestling. Women’s matches have headlined two WrestleManias (35 and 37: Night One), showcasing the talent and athleticism of female wrestlers.
SoCal Val’s comments align with those of former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion Melina, who recently stated that she does not look down on her time as a WWE Diva. These perspectives shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding the portrayal of women in professional wrestling and the importance of providing diverse opportunities and choices for female wrestlers.