Beth Phoenix, or "The Glamazon" as she was more affectionately known during her original time on the main roster in the WWE during 2007-2012, was a strong presence in the division and fondly remembered by fans. Phoenix made her presence felt, winning multiple titles and breaking through barriers during a transitional era in the company. Beth actually left WWE initially due to being unhappy with how women were being portrayed in storylines in the promotion. She was ahead of the curve before the Women's Revolution, but she decided to head off to start a family.
Phoenix has returned to WWE in recent years as a fixture on commentary, and more recently she's transitioned to an active in-ring role again, and perhaps there is more in store for the future as well. With many female veterans reappearing out of the woodwork recently in time for the Rumble, maybe they should follow in the footsteps of Goldberg, Sting, and The Undertaker by extending their in-ring careers. It could be time for a new phase of women's wrestling where "age is but a number."
10 Age 41
Beth may have hit 40, but that is the new 30 and there are no signs of stopping her with the upcoming mixed tag match alongside Edge against Miz and Maryse at the Royal Rumble. There's possibly a singles WrestleMania match in the future for The Glamazon or the reforming of her tag team with Natalya Neidhart.
Keeping busy and not slowing down seems to be her mentality and a credit to her after taking some much-deserved time away from the ring. She returned to find a new niche behind the scenes initially and remained in the industry like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
9 Married to Edge
As many fans know, Beth is happily married to WWE legend Edge (Adam Copeland) since 2016, with the angle playing on recent WWE programming in time for the Royal Rumble. With a strong family life at the heart, Beth put her career to the side to concentrate on the motherly aspect in her 30s, as it was obviously important to her to be a mother.
It is nice to see a happy family unit within the wrestling community, and one that you would not want to mess with in the ring at all with all that knowledge, skills, training, and genetic heritage. With the couple both back in the WWE on screens as wrestlers, they are one of the more well-known partnerships in the wrestling world like Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
8 Successful Amateur Wrestling Career in High School
If you wondered why Beth was perhaps a cut above the rest of her peers in the ring, it was actually because she had a highly successful amateur wrestling career in high school before her WWE stint even began.
Attending Notre Dame School in Elmira, New York, she was also the first female wrestler in the school’s history and excelled at other athletic pursuits like tennis and athletics. This background had her in great standing for finally transitioning to the world of professional wrestling.
7 Height 5ft 7inches
The Glamazon stands at an impressive 5 foot 7 inches, meaning she could certainly get the advantage over many performers in the women’s division even to this day. It would certainly be a help in any women’s MITB match she may decide to participate in at any future date, and she even won a ladder match for her second OVW Title by using her height.
Although she was more remembered for her power and versatility in the ring and presence, Beth had it all actually and was one of the best workers of her generation. So a part-time comeback would work out great, with many fans secretly hoping she would take on the likes of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair next, and show them who stands tall.
6 Trained by The All Knighters
Being married to Edge is not the only link to Canada that Beth holds. She was trained by the independent Canadian tag team duo the All Knighters. The trio spent time together in the Apocalypse Wrestling Federation based in Toronto that was active from 1998 to 2012 and promoted by Ron Hutchinson
The promotion actually had a handful of famous names including Edge, Christian Trish Stratus, Gail Kim, and Beth Phoenix. Beth learned well and spent some time on the independent circuit before being spotted and signed due to her striking looks and abilities in the ring, moving onto developmental at WWE back in 2006 when it was still OVW.
5 Suffered a Fractured Mandible Derailing her Debut
Beth’s original debut in the WWE was actually derailed considerably due to the serious injury of a broken jaw that required extensive time off. She originally debuted for the Raw brand in May 2006. Soon an incident happened during a match with Victoria that required multiple surgeries over the course of 12 months on her jaw and a titanium plate and screws inserted.
She returned to developmental as a precaution where she won the OVW Women's Title twice. Over a year since leaving the main roster, she re-debuted in July 2007 with the WWE getting behind her big time, making up for the lost time. As an imposing element in the division, it did not take long before she found championship success.
4 She is a Four-Time World Champion
Beth won her first title defeating Candice Michelle at No Mercy 2007 in a little over 3 months since her re-debut in super quick fashion as the WWE had built her up to be the queen of the division long before Charlotte Flair used it as her marketing slogan. She held the gold for a solid six months in a great beginning before relinquishing it to Mickie James.
Over the course of her tenure in WWE, she captured the Women’s Championship a further two times and the Diva’s Title once. She defeated the likes of Mickie James, Michelle McCool during the notorious Lay-Cool phase, and Kelly Kelly. Art imitated life as Phoenix went on a quest to destroy those in the division.
3 2017 Hall of Fame Inductee
Beth was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017. Alongside her husband, they are to this day the first and only couple in WWE history to hold this honor. Quite an accomplishment. She was inducted by her tag team partner and best friend Natalya, and Edge also made an appearance in a nice moment for them both.
At this point in time, both were retired, and it looked like Edge's neck injury meant a ring return was impossible. Fast-forward to today and everything has changed, and it just goes to show do not count out anything in the world of professional wrestling.
2 Star Commentary Stint
Beth took up a position in NXT and excelled at it, but first, she specialized in the growing change in the women's division, commentating on many signature events such as the women's Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Tag Team Championship debuts.
From 2019 to 2021, she worked in NXT full time in a prime commentary position alongside the likes of Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuiness, and Wade Barrett, adding much-needed wrestling knowledge and expertise.
1 First Wrestler Ever in both Men's & Women's Rumbles
By virtue of having already been the second-ever female to have participated in the men's Royal Rumble, and then emerging from retirement in 2019 and competing in the women's Royal Rumble 2020, 10 years later, Beth in fact holds the accolade of being the "first-ever wrestler" to have accomplished this unique feat.
Phoenix also competed in the first-ever women's "I quit match" in the company but has a few more trophies to collect like the Elimination Chamber to navigate in the future to complete the full set of accomplishments. She has never wrestled in MITB or an Ironwoman match, so hopefully, they might be on the cards next. In the end, it is just good to see Beth back on the screen after a long absence and doing what she does best.