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Recently I was asked to write some guest blog articles for Worldwide Uncensored Wrestling regarding whom i would pick to perpetuate an actual Diva’s revolution in the WWE, and I thought I would go a little more in depth and share my thoughts with you here, as well. But before I make the reveal, let’s discuss why I feel a Diva’s revolution is necessary, and what it entails.
Women’s wrestling for the past two decades in the major promotions has been an after thought at best, base titillation at its worst. Women were being hired, not for their love of the craft, not for their talent in the ring or on the mic, but for a look. Fitness models, strippers, it didn’t matter; as long as you had boobs and weren’t afraid to flaunt them, you were golden, from Kelly Kelly to Nikki Bella to Eva Marie, talent was unnecessary as long as you were willing to slut it up for ratings. While it’s one thing to be comfortable in your sexuality, which is fine, these women were being exploited, by the promotions and by themselves, for a male 18-49 year old market. Occasionally they would even market these ‘divas’ to young women, as role models of ‘strong women’, like the Bellas for example, sending the message that talent and hard work didn’t matter, only looks did. And the storylines? Soap opera drivel, boy trouble, jealousy.. none of the more complex story lines men were positioned in. And the matches themselves were 3 minutes at best of hair pulling, slapping, and cat fighting in skimpy outfits. All of which may be fine, if there is also a balance of decent women having matches like the men were allowed to put on, showcasing wrestling talent and ability. But for the most part and with rare exception, that just doesn’t happen in the major promotions.
A true Divas Revolution needs to change not just the players, but the mindset; the paradigm itself. Treating the women as equals to the men; allowing them to do the same moves, if they can, have decent matches, participate in a variety of story lines. In other words talented women allowed to showcase their talent and love for the art. I feel these three women exemplify these qualities.
First is Leva Bates,or as many NXT fans know her, Blue Pants.
Leva was trained at the Team 3D Academy by Devon and Bubba ray Dudley, two superstars in their own right who have turned out some stellar workers in the past. Leva has won titles across the Indys, winning the women’s titles in CCW, SCW, USCW and WSU, and the women’s tag titles (with Mia Yim, whom you might also know as Jade in TNA) in SHINE, as well as many other accolades during her amazing career. She has also appeared in TNA, where she answered Awesome Kong’s open challenge on May 26, 2008, but was defeated in the match. She worked a dark match for TNA on February 5, 2011 in a losing effort to Isis The Amazon, and appeared on the September 27, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling as an evil stage hand who was in league with the Aces & 8s faction and helped them abduct Sting and Hulk Hogan. Some of Leva’s best work, however, was yet to come.
Bates debuted for Shine Wrestling on July 20, 2012 and competed in a losing effort against Mercedes Martinez at their first show. She would pick up victories over Portia Perez and Kimberly at the next two shows before losing to Jessicka Havok at SHINE 4. At SHINE 5, Bates volunteered to be Kimberly’s partner in a tag team match against Made In Sin, but they were defeated. After the loss, Bates was attacked by Kimberly, beginning a feud between the two. Bates was defeated by Kimberly at SHINE 6 on January 11, 2013, but she defeated Kimberly in a Last Woman Standing match at SHINE 7. At SHINE 8 on March 23, Bates lost to Kimberly in a Fans Bring the Weapons/I Quit Match, but at SHINE 9 on April 19, Bates defeated Kimberly in an Arkham Asylum Steel Cage Match to end their feud.
At SHINE 10 on May 24, Bates defeated Taylor Made to qualify for the SHINE Championship Tournament. At the tournament at SHINE 11 on July 12, Bates lost to Mia Yim in a first round match. Bates defeated Christina Von Eerie via DQ at SHINE 12. Bates entered a feud with Nevaeh after she lost to her at SHINE 13 due to interference by The S-N-S Express (Sassy Stephie and Jessie Belle). At SHINE 14, Bates teamed with The American Sweethearts in a losing effort to the Express in a six-woman tag team match. Bates defeated Nevaeh in a Friday the 13th Massacre Match at SHINE 15 on December 13, but she was defeated by Nevaeh at SHINE 16 on January 24, 2014.
Bates aligned with Mia Yim to form The Lucha Sisters and entered the SHINE Tag Team Championship Tournament at SHINE 17 on February 28, 2014. At the event, Bates and Yim won the tournament; defeating Made In Sin in the finals to become the first ever SHINE Tag Team Champions. At SHINE 18 on April 18, Bates and Yim defeated Kellie Skater and Evie in their first successful title defense. At SHINE 19 on May 23, Bates teamed with Yim, Ivelisse, Jessicka Havok, and Tracy Taylor in a losing effort to Valkyrie in a 10-woman elimination tag team match. Bates was eliminated by Allysin Kay. Bates and Yim lost the SHINE Tag Team Championship to Legendary at SHINE 20 on June 27. At SHINE 21 on August 22, Bates and Yim lost their title rematch to Legendary after Bates was struck with one of the title belts by Thunderkitty. At SHINE 22, Bates teamed with Yim and Kellie Skater in a losing effort against Valifornia. It was at this time that the WWE finally came around and realized the potential in Bates, and NXT beckoned.
Bates made her debut in WWE’s developmental territory on the October 16, 2014, episode of NXT, as an enhancement talent, losing to the debuting Carmella. She was introduced as “Blue Pants” by Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady because of her blue ring attire, and retained the name for her subsequent appearances. She returned at the NXT television tapings on October 23, losing again to Carmella; the match aired on November 27. Blue Pants earned her first victory on the January 1, 2015, episode of NXT, defeating Carmella in their third match. She made further appearances on the February 18, April 15, and June 10 episodes, losing to NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, and Emma respectively. Blue Pants made a surprise appearance to a massive pop at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22, managing The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch), where they won the NXT Tag Team Championship. Blue Pants also had an altercation with Alexa Bliss during the match. Bliss would go on to defeat Blue Pants in a singles match on the September 2 episode of NXT.
Throughout her career, Leva has been known for her amazing repertoire of cosplay characters as well as her amazing talent. Here is just a sample of her amazing characters.
But far from being just another sexy gimmick girl, Leva can GO in the ring, with a fantastic hybrid style that is sorely missing from the women’s division on the main roster. She can hold her own with any current Diva with ease, and brings a wide variety of possibilities to the show.
A well trained, beautiful, versatile woman in MY WWE? Most people think this is just a fantasy, but I guarantee that given the nod, Leva can put the revolution on the map, and advance the state of women’s wrestling for years to come. As an added bonus, she used to come out to MC Chris as her entrance music, so for my money DONE DEAL!
Oh wait, you want to see what she can do when given the chance?
My next pick for a woman who would be a perfect addition to a real Diva’s revolution in the WWE, and not that sham of a hashtag that WWE currently pays lip service to. That woman is none other than the insanely talented Crazy Mary Dobson!
Women’s wrestling for the past two decades in the major promotions has been an after thought at best, base titillation at its worst. Women were being hired, not for their love of the craft, not for their talent in the ring or on the mic, but for a look. Fitness models, strippers, it didn’t matter; as long as you had boobs and weren’t afraid to flaunt them, you were golden, from Kelly Kelly to Nikki Bella to Eva Marie, talent was unnecessary as long as you were willing to slut it up for ratings. While it’s one thing to be comfortable in your sexuality, which is fine, these women were being exploited, by the promotions and by themselves, for a male 18-49 year old market. Occasionally they would even market these ‘divas’ to young women, as role models of ‘strong women’, like the Bellas for example, sending the message that talent and hard work didn’t matter, only looks did. And the storylines? Soap opera drivel, boy trouble, jealousy.. none of the more complex story lines men were positioned in. And the matches themselves were 3 minutes at best of hair pulling, slapping, and cat fighting in skimpy outfits. All of which may be fine, if there is also a balance of decent women having matches like the men were allowed to put on, showcasing wrestling talent and ability. But for the most part and with rare exception, that just doesn’t happen in the major promotions.
A true Divas Revolution needs to change not just the players, but the mindset; the paradigm itself. Treating the women as equals to the men; allowing them to do the same moves, if they can, have decent matches, participate in a variety of story lines. In other words talented women allowed to showcase their talent and love for the art. I feel these three women exemplify these qualities.
First is Leva Bates,or as many NXT fans know her, Blue Pants.
Leva was trained at the Team 3D Academy by Devon and Bubba ray Dudley, two superstars in their own right who have turned out some stellar workers in the past. Leva has won titles across the Indys, winning the women’s titles in CCW, SCW, USCW and WSU, and the women’s tag titles (with Mia Yim, whom you might also know as Jade in TNA) in SHINE, as well as many other accolades during her amazing career. She has also appeared in TNA, where she answered Awesome Kong’s open challenge on May 26, 2008, but was defeated in the match. She worked a dark match for TNA on February 5, 2011 in a losing effort to Isis The Amazon, and appeared on the September 27, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling as an evil stage hand who was in league with the Aces & 8s faction and helped them abduct Sting and Hulk Hogan. Some of Leva’s best work, however, was yet to come.
Bates debuted for Shine Wrestling on July 20, 2012 and competed in a losing effort against Mercedes Martinez at their first show. She would pick up victories over Portia Perez and Kimberly at the next two shows before losing to Jessicka Havok at SHINE 4. At SHINE 5, Bates volunteered to be Kimberly’s partner in a tag team match against Made In Sin, but they were defeated. After the loss, Bates was attacked by Kimberly, beginning a feud between the two. Bates was defeated by Kimberly at SHINE 6 on January 11, 2013, but she defeated Kimberly in a Last Woman Standing match at SHINE 7. At SHINE 8 on March 23, Bates lost to Kimberly in a Fans Bring the Weapons/I Quit Match, but at SHINE 9 on April 19, Bates defeated Kimberly in an Arkham Asylum Steel Cage Match to end their feud.
At SHINE 10 on May 24, Bates defeated Taylor Made to qualify for the SHINE Championship Tournament. At the tournament at SHINE 11 on July 12, Bates lost to Mia Yim in a first round match. Bates defeated Christina Von Eerie via DQ at SHINE 12. Bates entered a feud with Nevaeh after she lost to her at SHINE 13 due to interference by The S-N-S Express (Sassy Stephie and Jessie Belle). At SHINE 14, Bates teamed with The American Sweethearts in a losing effort to the Express in a six-woman tag team match. Bates defeated Nevaeh in a Friday the 13th Massacre Match at SHINE 15 on December 13, but she was defeated by Nevaeh at SHINE 16 on January 24, 2014.
Bates aligned with Mia Yim to form The Lucha Sisters and entered the SHINE Tag Team Championship Tournament at SHINE 17 on February 28, 2014. At the event, Bates and Yim won the tournament; defeating Made In Sin in the finals to become the first ever SHINE Tag Team Champions. At SHINE 18 on April 18, Bates and Yim defeated Kellie Skater and Evie in their first successful title defense. At SHINE 19 on May 23, Bates teamed with Yim, Ivelisse, Jessicka Havok, and Tracy Taylor in a losing effort to Valkyrie in a 10-woman elimination tag team match. Bates was eliminated by Allysin Kay. Bates and Yim lost the SHINE Tag Team Championship to Legendary at SHINE 20 on June 27. At SHINE 21 on August 22, Bates and Yim lost their title rematch to Legendary after Bates was struck with one of the title belts by Thunderkitty. At SHINE 22, Bates teamed with Yim and Kellie Skater in a losing effort against Valifornia. It was at this time that the WWE finally came around and realized the potential in Bates, and NXT beckoned.
Bates made her debut in WWE’s developmental territory on the October 16, 2014, episode of NXT, as an enhancement talent, losing to the debuting Carmella. She was introduced as “Blue Pants” by Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady because of her blue ring attire, and retained the name for her subsequent appearances. She returned at the NXT television tapings on October 23, losing again to Carmella; the match aired on November 27. Blue Pants earned her first victory on the January 1, 2015, episode of NXT, defeating Carmella in their third match. She made further appearances on the February 18, April 15, and June 10 episodes, losing to NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, and Emma respectively. Blue Pants made a surprise appearance to a massive pop at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22, managing The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch), where they won the NXT Tag Team Championship. Blue Pants also had an altercation with Alexa Bliss during the match. Bliss would go on to defeat Blue Pants in a singles match on the September 2 episode of NXT.
Throughout her career, Leva has been known for her amazing repertoire of cosplay characters as well as her amazing talent. Here is just a sample of her amazing characters.
But far from being just another sexy gimmick girl, Leva can GO in the ring, with a fantastic hybrid style that is sorely missing from the women’s division on the main roster. She can hold her own with any current Diva with ease, and brings a wide variety of possibilities to the show.
A well trained, beautiful, versatile woman in MY WWE? Most people think this is just a fantasy, but I guarantee that given the nod, Leva can put the revolution on the map, and advance the state of women’s wrestling for years to come. As an added bonus, she used to come out to MC Chris as her entrance music, so for my money DONE DEAL!
Oh wait, you want to see what she can do when given the chance?
My next pick for a woman who would be a perfect addition to a real Diva’s revolution in the WWE, and not that sham of a hashtag that WWE currently pays lip service to. That woman is none other than the insanely talented Crazy Mary Dobson!
Trained by two legends in the industry, Mickie Knuckles and Mad Man Pondo, Mary Dobson made her debut in 2011 for IWA East Coast, but soon worked her way across the mid west, becoming known on the circuit for her amazing work in death matches, competing against men and women alike. The buzz about her quickly spread, and soon she was the veteran of several tours of Japan, constantly absorbing new styles, new techniques, and mastering her craft. Her work ethic and reputation have provided her with many opportunities, and she has made the most of them, having amazing series of matches with the like of Annie Social, Veda Scott, Lufisto, Leva Bates, Jessika Havok, Christina Von Eerie, Mia Yim, Mickie Knuckles and Athena, as well as Simon Sezz, Mason and Devin Cutter and many other Indy standouts, as well as working in promotions such as AIW, JCW, Ring of Honor, Shimmer, Shine, Resistance Pro, NJPW and most recently a few matches in NXT, including a main event match versus NXT Woman’s Champion Bayley on the WWE Network. Dobson as paid her dues across the globe, and both her charisma and talent easily could qualify her for a main roster slot where she would stand head and shoulders above nearly every ‘diva’ currently on the WWE roster. In fact she would be a perfect fit with Bray Wyatt as the oft mentioned ‘Sister Abigail’, with her combination of natural charisma, strong wrestling ability, capacity for violence, and a certain amount of dare I say ‘crazy’ that lurks just beneath her surface, and often boils over.
But far from slowing down her career, Ivelisse stepped up, working non stop on the independent circuit, and appearing in FWE, TNA, and Shine, where she eventually became Shine’s Woman’s Champion. Her ring work is fast paced, hard hitting, and embraces both a stron style, a lucha style, and a strong grasp of the psychological. She is always portrayed as the strong, talented woman she is, and her matches are always entertaining. Her talents have seldom been showcased as well as they have been recently in Lucha Underground, where she teams with Son of Havok and Angelico, eventually winning the inaugural Lucha Underground Trios Championship. Whether she is competing against women, like Sexy Star, or the men of Lucha Underground, Ivelisse always shines, and is a true veteran and inspiration to all who are lucky enough to see her perform. Her courage, drive, and professionalism are second to none, as exemplified in the Trios Ladder match she competed in at Lucha Underground, and when putting on an outstanding match against Cage, Daivari, and Big Ryck while ‘hampered’ by a legitimate foot injury.
If there is a weakness in her repertoire, I honestly cannot find it, as she is stellar on the mic, in the ring, as a face or a heel, and in every type of match she has thrown at her. Whether its a brutal inter-gender brawl or a fast paced high flying Lucha style match, Ivelisse has the talent and knowledge to pull off an amazing show and tell a real story between the ropes, as do all three of my picks. But enough words. take a look at Ivelisse at work, and then look her up, support her, because the most important person that can possibly change the way women are depicted in wrestling is you; your support, your wants and needs, when heard by the major promotions CAN change things. Each of us are the most important people when it comes to creating a TRUE revolution! GET AT IT!
