In 1956, the Fabulous Moolah was the inaugural WWE Women's Champion, and she held the title for an unprecedented 28 years. Which will never be replicated, a pioneer in the women's revolution, Trish Stratus held the title a record seven times.
However, the championship suffered in its final few years as the title was barely defended on TV or pay-per-view. Sadly, women's wrestling was overlooked in this era, and if WWE is not going to be bothered then why should the fans? The title was retired at Night of Champions 2010 in favor of the WWE Divas Championship for six years. Looking back at the final champions before the 2010 retirement, some were better than others.
10 Beth Phoenix (Third Reign)
Beth Phoenix was at her best when she was a dominant heel. Nonetheless, in 2010, Phoenix was a face feuding with LayCool, and they knew that Phoenix posed a legitimate threat to McCool's Women's Championship.
At Extreme Rules, the Glamazon captured her third and final WWE Women's Championship from Michelle McCool in an Extreme Makeover match. The title reign was forgettable, lasting just 18 days as she dropped the title to Layla in a two-on-one handicap match on SmackDown.
9 Mickie James (Fifth Reign)
Mickie James was a mainstay on Monday Night Raw for many years but she moved over to SmackDown for the first time in the fall of 2009. She was immediately unwelcomed by LayCool who made her life a living hell. LayCool repeatedly bullied James and made fun of her weight, calling her "Piggie James." It was uncalled for and distasteful.
Finally, McCool got her comeuppance at the 2010 Royal Rumble. Mickie ended McCool's incredible 216-day reign as Women's Champion for her fifth reign with the gold. Subsequently, it was one of Mickie's worst title reigns as she never made a successful defense. A month later, McCool regained the title with Vickie Guerrero as special referee, which epitomized how bad her reign was.
8 Michelle McCool (Second Reign)
Undoubtedly, Michelle McCool is one of the greatest Women's Champions in WWE history. McCool always gave the championship instant credibility. However, the title was on its last legs in 2010 with McCool in her second reign with the championship.
Despite holding the title for 57 days, McCool failed to register a single successful title defense. She was victorious at WrestleMania XXVI in a 10-Diva tag team match but did nothing memorable with the title. Ultimately, Beth Phoenix ended McCool's final reign with the Women's Championship at Extreme Rules 2010 but McCool always thrived as a heel champion.
7 Layla
A lengthy Women's Championship reign doesn't necessarily mean it's a great one. Layla made history as she became the first-British born Women's Champion when she pinned Beth Phoenix in a two-on-one handicap match on an episode of SmackDown in May 2010.
However, SmackDown General Manager declared that LayCool had to have one definitive champion as they were co-champions. They comically split the title in half as they snatched it from each other. Layla retained the title once at Money in the Bank in a match with Kelly Kelly. 127 days later, the Women's Championship was retired as Michelle McCool defeated Melina to unify the Women's and Divas Championships. Layla was the final Women's Champion but McCool was credited as a two-time Divas Champion.
6 Candice Michelle
Candice Michelle is not an in-ring technician by any stretch of the imagination. However, Candice deserves a lot for learning and improving her in-ring skills. At Vengeance: Night of Champions 2007, Candice stunned Melina for her sole WWE Women's Championship reign.
Visibly emotional at her title win, Candice did not rest on her laurels as she retained the title in a rematch with Melina the following month at The Great American Bash. She had a brief feud with Beth Phoenix and despite upsetting the Glamazon at Unforgiven, she dropped the title at No Mercy to Phoenix. Candice did extremely well to hold the title for 104 days considering the likes of Melina, Beth Phoenix, and Mickie James were established stars.
5 Melina (Third Reign)
Melina followed in the footsteps of Trish Stratus, in terms of transitioning from a successful manager into a fine competitor. Melina and Beth Phoenix were inseparable as two heels heading into WrestleMania XXIV but they were friends no longer heading into their blockbuster encounter at the 2009 Royal Rumble.
An emotional Melina halted Phoenix's stranglehold of the Women's Championship at the Rumble. The Women's Championship was once again an afterthought as Melina had no meaningful storylines as champion. Her third reign lasted 153 days and she kept her title intact with two successful defenses against Beth Phoenix on Raw in 2009. Michelle McCool made history by becoming the first woman to capture both the Women's and Divas Championships when she ended Melina's reign at The Bash.
4 Mickie James (Fourth Reign)
Mickie James had always been respected amongst her peers as one of the best in-ring workers to grace a WWE ring. Mickie was equally as successful as a psychotic heel and loveable babyface. Fans rejoiced when she overcame Beth Phoenix in one of the best Women's Championship matches on Raw in April 2008 in London for her fourth Women's Championship.
James carried the Women's Championship with pride, and she retained the title in two PPV title matches, most notably at Judgment Day 2008 when she overcame Melina and Phoenix. Her title reign was fun and enjoyable but it ended in unique circumstances SummerSlam. Phoenix and Santino Marella dethroned Mickie and Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston to win their respective titles in a tag team match.
3 Beth Phoenix (Second Reign)
In 2008, Beth Phoenix showed a different side to her character by beginning an on-screen relationship with Santino Marella. Santino would dub the couple as Glamarella, who were highly successful with both of them in their second reigns as Intercontinental and Women's Champion.
Beth continued to stamp down her authority on the Raw women's division and the likes of Mickie James continued to feel her full force. The Glamazon renewed their rivalry and squared off at No Mercy for the second year in succession. The outcome remained the same with Beth prevailing, and she had a 160-day reign as champion and was rightfully recognized as Diva of the Year at the Slammys for her exploits.
2 Michelle McCool (First Reign)
Michelle McCool's first reign as WWE Women's Champion was her best run as a champion in WWE. McCool went back-to-back at The Bash 2009 by becoming the first woman to call themselves a Women's and Divas Champion, which is an astonishing feat. McCool was an obnoxious heel but she had the in-ring pedigree and was an exceptional talker on the mic which backed up her attitude.
LayCool was formed during McCool's title reign and she successfully defended the title against Melina in a rematch at Night of Champions and closed out the year with a win over Mickie James at TLC. Nevertheless, McCool's 216-day reign as Women's Champion was one of the longest title reigns in the decade, and she did a good job as champion in a difficult period for women's wrestling.
1 Beth Phoenix (First Reign)
At SummerSlam 2007, Beth Phoenix earned the right to challenge Candice Michelle for the Women's Championship at Unforgiven after winning a battle royal. The Glamazon failed to capture the Women's Championship but in a dominant display at No Mercy, Beth won the WWE Women's Championship and the era of the Glamazon began.
Phoenix had a tremendously good reign as champion, although she only managed to defend the title once on PPV against Micke James at Armageddon 2007. Beth was a believable heel champion as she had the strength and beauty to get over. She was the standout female wrestler in the late 2000s and deserves credit for having a successful reign as Women's Champion.