It’s often unfair to judge a worker in WWE by their early years. After all, who’d have guessed the Miz would go from annoying jerk to a major star? That goes for the women in WWE as well. A few can show their fantastic potential from the get-go, such as Lita or Charlotte, but others need time to develop. In a few cases, some ladies became better performers, not great but better than when they started (Candice Michelle, Melina, the Bellas). Other times, there are ones who started bad and just got worse (Jillian Hall).
It’s tricky to figure out who has an edge as scores of ladies in WWE can be excellent but not getting the proper chance to show it. Others have gotten countless opportunities but never improved more than when they started. That several of the latter still had long-term jobs, and success says a lot about WWE.
10 DIDN’T: Alicia Fox
When Alicia Fox finally left WWE in 2019, the general reaction was, “She still worked there?” One would think that being in a company for over a decade would naturally lead to some in-ring improvement. Instead, Fox was considered just as poor in 2019 as when she started in 2006.
It wasn’t only her uninspired ring work, but her awkward promos and some truly bizarre behavior as even Total Divas couldn’t give her a push. Fox wasn’t terrible in the ring yet never got better so her longevity in the company remains one of WWE’s greater mysteries.
9 IMPROVED: AJ Lee
Who would have guessed this small gal in FCW would become one of the WWE’s most notable ladies? AJ Lee started in the corner of Daniel Bryan and others along with a stint as RAW General Manager. Few had realistic expectations of her as a wrestler.
Then Lee embarked on a record reign as Divas champion while also flaunting a fun style to win fans over. Lee paved the way for the “Women’s Revolution” by being herself rather than some sexy character. While she left in 2015, her impact has been felt as Lee’s improvement also aided the women of WWE.
8 DIDN’T: Nia Jax
There’s getting good heat as a monster...and then there’s what Nia Jax does. Since her debut in 2014, Jax has gotten over thanks to her massive size and a run as RAW champion. But Jax has also earned a reputation for reckless and sloppy work in the ring that puts opponents in serious danger.
Everyone knows how she gave Becky Lynch a bloody nose and concussion. But Jax has also injured Kari Sane, Ember Moon, Bayley, and Charlotte, among others. The “don’t know my own strength” excuse no longer flies as Jax should not be this dangerous after several years in the company.
7 IMPROVED: Bayley
Pamela Rose Martinez showed some promise in the indies but lacked polish. In NXT, Bayley was soon winning over fans with her loveable personality and part of the “Four Horsewomen.” It paid off with her beating Sasha Banks for the title in what most considered the best matches of 2015.
Bayley had success on the main roster but appeared to be on the downslide. Her heel turn in 2019 has sparked her back up, as her new wicked instinct leads to more success. It’s a major transformation, but it’s paid off for Bayley to be a true champion in WWE.
6 DIDN’T: Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler would be the first to acknowledge that her looks are how she got pushed in WWE. With her bright smile, lush blonde hair, and of course, those 42-inch legs, Keibler was a stunner. She was better off as a manager but did wrestle, including shots at the Women’s title.
But Keibler was never believable as a strong lady, and her main move was using her legs to choke someone against a ring post. She never did more than dance-themed moves, so while she was fun to watch, Stacy never improved.
5 IMPROVED: Alexa Bliss
It’s incredible to see some of the early acts of future WWE stars. In NXT, Alexa Bliss started with a princess character, complete with blowing “fairy dust” at the crowds. She got over better as the heel manager for tag champions Blake and Murphy.
On the main roster, Bliss turned into a surprisingly good worker, able to take off the top rope and use her small size to her advantage. It has led to multiple reigns as RAW, SmackDown, and Women’s Tag Team Champion as well as a great presence on the mic to allow Alexa to stand tall in WWE.
4 DIDN’T: Sable
Rena Mero does get credit for moving from merely managing her husband Marc to reviving women’s wrestling in WWE. Yet, in terms of actual ring work, Sable wasn’t that special. Sure, her “Sable Bomb” looked impressive on a few folks, but otherwise, she didn’t have real in-ring skills.
It became worse when her success went to her head, and Sable became a pretty selfish person who barely cared about her matches. A 2003 return wasn’t much better as Sable always relied on looks more than in-ring skill.
3 IMPROVED: Becky Lynch
Rebecca Quinn did have promise in the indies before a neck injury put her career in jeopardy. When she started in NXT, Becky was forced to endure every Irish cliché imaginable, complete with a “jig” in the ring. It was dying her hair orange and her “steampunk” look that won over fans.
That paid off as Lynch would rise in NXT and then the main roster. Her transformation into “The Man” in 2018 made her one of the company’s biggest stars ever, which no one would have guessed when Lynch started in NXT.
2 DIDN’T: Eva Marie
It’s been three years, but Eva Marie is still ranked as arguably the worst woman to come out of NXT. There’s no denying she was stunning with her fantastic body and hair. Eva also had the aura of an arrogant diva to be a promising heel. Then she started to wrestle and talk.
One can easily find video montages of her endless botches of the simplest moves and inability to cut a decent promo. Worse was that Eva refused any help in improving herself and relied on her looks. That might have worked once but not in 2016, and few shed tears when she was finally dropped.
1 IMPROVED: Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus is the poster gal for someone who started with no wrestling experience and became a legend. Trish debuted in 2000 as the typical hot blonde who flaunted herself in tight outfits for the guys she was managing but had little serious impact. After a bit of training, Trish’s stunning potential was unlocked to make her a star.
Trish would hold the Women’s Title seven times in her career and always relied on her skills more than looks. It’s astounding how the lady once dismissed as eye candy helped make WWE take women’s wrestling seriously.