WWE Attitude Era: Where happened to the Divas?

For many, the Attitude Era is the pinnacle of professional wrestling. The Era, spanning between late 1997 and mid-2002 at the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) was a period where the company made a clear shift from family-friendly programming to edgier storylines and more extreme matchups, where the use of weapons became far more frequent.

It also saw the franchise become a dominant force in the entertainment industry once again and saw the birth of some its biggest names, including Steve Austin and The Rock, as well as a host of others.

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It also marked the first time women played a more serious role in events. For the longest time, they had been relegated to valet status – not much more than ‘eye candy’ – but the Attitude Era saw women stepping up their in-ring work, even using weapons and competing with the men as well. Let’s take a look back at the ‘Divas’ of the era, and where they are today.

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Often regarded as the best female wrestler of all time, Trish Stratus was an absolute icon of the Attitude Era. Starting out as a manager for Test, Albert and Val Venis, she soon found herself working as a legitimate wrestler thanks to her athletic ability and natural charisma. In her initial run (she retired in 2006), she was the Women’s champ seven times – a testament to her popularity at the time.

She spent the following years pursuing acting work and working full-time as yoga instructor at her own studio. She made a surprising return to the WWE in early 2023 – more than 17 years out of the business – and continues to be part of the roster today.

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For many, Lita epitomized the Attitude Era for women. Lita debuted in 2000 and soon became popular as part of Team Extreme with the Hardy Boyz. With a hardcore, high-flying luchador-inspired wrestling style, she was easily one of the most physically gifted and entertaining women in the WWE. In fact, she was the first woman to ever take part in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match.

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Aside from a serious neck injury that sidelined her for over a year, she would continue to be a central character for the Divas division until her retirement in 2006. After spending a number of years working on non-wrestling projects, such as performing with her band The Luchagors, she slowly re-entered the wrestling business, first working as a trainer, then in the creative department, and as of February 2023 a regular on the WWE roster.

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Ivory made her debut in the WWF in 1999 but was something of a seasoned pro at the point, coming off the back of several years at the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW), which she had been a part of since the late 80s. She immediately impressed and became wildly popular, winning the Women’s title three times in one year.

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Soon after, she would begin playing a heel character with highly conservative views, becoming an important pivot point for Women’s storylines. She retired in 2005, first stepping back to work as a WWE trainer, before pursuing work with animals. She now runs a dog daycare and grooming business called Downtown Dog in Washington.

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Sable was on the ground floor of the WWF when the Attitude Era rolled in. Debuting in 1996 as a valet for Triple H, she would then go on to manage Marc Mero, before overtaking him in the popularity stakes. She would then carve out her own place in history by becoming just the second Diva to win the newly revamped Women’s title.

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It wasn’t always smooth sailing though. Despite being one of the most popular Divas, with appearances on TV Guide and Playboy, she quit WWE following sexual harassment allegations. She returned in 2003, and would marry fellow wrestler Brock Lesnar in 2006. The pair seemingly enjoy a private life on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada.

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Tori was another wrestler who came to the WWF with plenty of ring time under her belt, arriving with almost a decade of experience scattered in the US independent circuit and with All Japan Pro-Wrestling. She debuted in the WWF in 1998 and enjoyed an eventful few years in the company.

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One of Tori’s standout moments was getting powerbombed through a table by the Dudley Boyz in a Tables and Dumpsters match in. She seemingly had a penchant for the extreme stuff as she also competed in the first-ever women’s hardcore match in 1999. She was released from her contract in 2001 and now works full-time as a yoga instructor.

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Another Diva who earned her straps with the hardcore division was Molly Holly. Holly debuted in 2000 and was straight away feuding with Trish Stratus and table breakers, the Dudley Boyz. She would also go on to be a hardcore title belt holder in 2001…for about one hour anyway

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Her achievements are actually bigger outside the Attitude Era. She won the Women’s title in 2002 and 2004, before stepping away from the company in 2005. Outside of wrestling she worked for Minnesota Teen Challenge, a nonprofit treatment center aiding recovery from addiction. She now again works for the WWE, but as producer behind the scenes.

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Not your typical Diva, Stephanie McMahon was still a huge figure in the Attitude era storylines. As well as being a key player in the kayfabe business operations as Vince’s daughter and fueling a whole host of feuds, she also held the Women’s title for five months in 2001.

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Steph stayed true the family business and worked as Co-CEO and chairwoman of the WWE until January 2023, when she stepped down once Vince McMahon returned after a period of absence from the company. She is married to fellow wrestler and WWE business player Triple H and the couple has three children.

For whatever reason, Jazz is not one of the most well-remembered Divas from this time, but that’s a shame as she was one of the most powerful and technically gifted performers on the roster. Honing her craft at ECW, Jazz joined WWF in 2001 and immediately got a shot at the Women’s title, which she ultimately lost to Trish Stratus the first time around.

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It wouldn’t take long for her to claim it though, and was crowned Women’s champ in early 2002, which she would go on to hold until the company transitioned into WWE – making her the last WWF Women’s Champion and the first-ever WWE Women’s Champion. She left WWE in 2004 after issues with the WWE creative department. She now works as a fitness instructor and gym owner.

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Stacy Kiebler’s wrestling career started at WCW in 1999 but she found herself in the WWF once WCW was bought out by McMahon’s company. Kiebler spent most of her time in the Attitude Era as a heel, perhaps most notably remembered as the sadistic Duchess of Dudleyville manager of the Dudley Boyz.

Unlike the other Divas on this list, Kiebler’s most notable work was character and ringside-related. Though she never held the Women’s title, she was incredibly popular with the fans, until she left in 2006 to pursue other endeavors, including modeling and acting work, such as on the TV shows 'How I Met Your Mother' and 'Psych'. She now lives in Wyoming with her entrepreneur husband Jared Pobre and three kids.

Chyna was in the WWF at the start of the Attitude Era and helped break the ground for female wrestlers of that time. Scouted for the WWF because of her success as a bodybuilder, Chyna stunned with her strength and raw power when she emerged on the scene in 1997. She would go on to have one of the most successful runs in women’s wrestling history.

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In n 1999, she became the first woman to compete in the Royal Rumble. Later in the year she’d do the same in the King of the Ring. She would also be the first to be the No. 1 contender to the WWF Championship and would first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship. Despite this, she only won the Women’s title once – largely because she was pursuing these other avenues.

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Her story does not end well, though. After being fired from WWF in 2001, she struggled with drug addiction and re-branding herself. She would go on to star in adult films throughout the 2000s while battling her drug problem in order to make money. She would eventually succumb to this in 2016, dying at her home in California at the age of 46.

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Who was your favourite wrestler in the women's division? Do you have any standout memories from this time? Let us know in the comments!