The Better Women's Wrestler: Wendi Richter or Trish Stratus?

You can't compare the two realistically. Why? Because they competed in two entirely different eras of Women's Wrestling. Back in Wendi's day there were real WRESTLERS instead of PIN-UP GIRLS who looked good rolling around on a canvas mat in a never-ending T&A show.

I would say that pretty much ANY woman competitor from the early 80's and before would kick the living HELL out of any "diva" from the "Sable Era" on.

Back in Wendi's day you had women who were striving to PROVE that women's wrestling deserved to be recognized and fought hard for that. June Byers, Moolah, Bette Boucher, Evelyn Stevens, Helen Hild (ted dibiase.. the million dollar man's mother) Penny Banner, Penny Mitchell, Susan Green, Velvet McIntyre, lei Lani Kai, Judy Martin, Vivian Vachon, Bull Nakano, Madusa, Akira Hokuto, Princess Victoria, Luna, Sherri Martel, Bambi, Misty Blue Simms, Kat LeRoux, Desiree Peterson, Debbie Combs, Toni Rose.. the list goes on and on.

These women focused on the ABILITY to wrestle eachother and dish out punishment and getting the pinfall victory. There were rarely "rest moves" used, a lot more hair pulling.. granted.. but nothing like reverse chinlocks lasting five minutes, etc. They WRESTLED.. and in their wrestling they knew counter moves and submission moves, and if you were to watch any of their matches on youtube or wherever else you may get to see them.. you'll notice that they are almost ALWAYS in constant motion.. flowing from one move to the next.

Comapred to the woman competitors of today its a VAST difference. Today it's more about "hitting the high spot" than it is the wrestling. There are some.. very FEW.. who can actually WRESTLE... Mickie James and Beth Phoenix, Gail Kim, and Natalya come to mind.. but Trish Stratus was DEFINITELY not one of them. With the woman competitors today, you see more "blown spots" than anything else, and in comparison to the women of Wendi's era.. its pretty much not even an issue.

And for all of you who still claim that Wendi ended "Moolah's nearly thirty year title reign".. I BEG of you to do some research! Moolah lost the title TEN YEARS after she won it.. to her sister-in-law Bette Boucher, for a few days before winning it back. She then lost it again a few years later in Japan to Yukiko Tomoe (for a month!), then lost it again to Susan Green in Madison Square Garden, then lost it again to Evelyn Stevens BEFORE ever dropping the belt to Wendi Richter. In case you lost count.. that makes Moolah a FIVE TIME CHAMPION before ever losing to Wendi. Regaining it from her and then winning it from Velvet McIntyre and winning it from Ivory gives Moolah EIGHT WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP REIGNS.. topping Trish's seven.

In Wendi's day, the competitors were more fierce and vicious and.. since Moolah had the rights to the championship.. they were ALL hungry to get the title from her. Granted Moolah's dominance of the title pretty much almost killed it, Wendi was the focal point of the rejuvenation of Women's Wrestling in North America. She had the skill, the looks, and the popularity.. oftentimes main eventing house shows all across the country. She even came THISCLOSE to dethroning Hulk Hogan's popularity.

Unfortunately since Vince McMahon didn't wn the rights to the Women's World Championship until he bought them from Moolah right before she dropped the title to Wendi.. the WWE credits Moolah as holding the title for 28 or so years.. totally ignoring the other women who had beaten her for it only a few years earlier. (Vince's "selective championship history")
Trish Stratus never did, and never WILL come close to that level of popularity no matter how long she lives. Wendi Richter accomplished more in her two title reigns that Trish EVER could have hoped to in her seven.

Who is the best WRESTLER? Which is the point of this thread.. hands down Wendi Richter is the better WRESTLER... who was better skilled? Again, hands down Wendi Richter.. taking into consideration the level of competition she faced back in the day. MOST of Trish's opponents have been pin-up models who only know how to flash their asses or Vince McMahon funded breasts. (The Kat, Sable, Melina, Maryse, The Bellas, BB Bush, etc)

Who was/is more IMPORTANT to the history of Women's Wrestling? Again, hands down Wendi Richter. If it weren't for her "look" and Vince McMahon.. at times questionale.. genius back in 1984 or 85.. women's wrestling would be a dead issue and Trish Stratus never would have existed.. PERIOD!

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