WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal

The WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal[1] is a professional wrestling battle royal held at WrestleMania by American professional wrestling promotion WWE. The inaugural battle royal was held during the WrestleMania 34 pre-show. The winner of the match receives the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal Trophy.

The match was originally named The Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal in honor of The Fabulous Moolah – billed as a pioneer of women's wrestling. However, her name was removed from the match after backlash from fans due to the controversy surrounding Moolah's past.

This is the female counterpart to the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which was introduced at WrestleMania XXX.[2]

History

On the March 12, 2018, episode of Raw, WWE established The Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal in honor of Moolah, and that the first match would take place at WrestleMania 34 on April 8, with the winner receiving The Fabulous Moolah Memorial Trophy (made in the likeness of Moolah).[3][4] After a controversy over their decision to honor Moolah, WWE changed the name to the "WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal".[1] The trophy was subsequently renamed, and redesigned as a simple golden cup with tassels atop the trophy's base.[5] The inaugural match was won by Naomi, after she last eliminated Bayley.

Winners

Winner Date Location WrestleMania Last eliminated
Naomi April 8, 2018 New Orleans, Louisiana 34 Bayley

Name controversy

The Fabulous Moolah, c. 2003

The decision to hold a battle royal in honor of The Fabulous Moolah drew fan rage.[6][7] Tufayel Ahmed of Newsweek wrote that Moolah "isn't quite the bastion of female empowerment she is proclaimed to be", with "years of allegations" that she had "monopolized women’s wrestling in North America", taken a large percentage of other wrestlers' pay, and "sexually exploited women under her mentorship".[8] Jason Powell, from Pro Wrestling Dot Net, criticized the tribute as it does not "exactly mesh with what WWE wants their women's division push to represent".[9] David Bixenspan of Deadspin pointed out that given Moolah's alleged abuses, fans were particularly turned off by WWE personnel describing Moolah as a "trailblazer for women’s equality". WWE also promoted Moolah as having "challenged the gender norms of a once male-dominated sport", but Bixenspan described that Moolah, by wrestling and teaching her students an "in-ring style low on athleticism and heavy on hair-pulling", relegated women's wrestling to "much more of a sideshow" instead of a "legitimate headline attraction" in the previous era.[10] Mad Maxine, a wrestler trained by Moolah, commented that Moolah was the most "monstrous" person she had ever met, and that wrestling is "about generating heat. And you can't draw more heat than naming a match for The Fabulous Moolah."[11]

On March 12, a Change.org petition appeared online demanding WWE change the name of its upcoming Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal, nearing its 10,000 signature goal.[7][12] Initially, WWE reacted by disabling the comments section of their YouTube video that announced the Moolah battle royal.[13][14] Later, Snickers, the primary sponsor of WrestleMania 34, called the decision to honor Moolah "unacceptable" and said they were "engaging with the WWE to express our disappointment."[15] On March 14, WWE renamed the match "WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal", removing Moolah's name from the event.[7][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Currier, Joseph (March 15, 2018). "WWE changes name of Fabulous Moolah battle royal". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. United States: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Raw results: Bryan occupies Raw and Triple H says 'YES!' ... with a twist". WWE.com. Stamford, Connecticut: WWE. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  3. ↑ Casey, Connor (March 12, 2018). "WWE Announces Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal for WrestleMania 34". Pop Culture. Brentwood, Tennessee: Pop Culture Media. Retrieved March 13, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  4. ↑ Pappolla, Ryan (March 12, 2018). "The first-ever Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal to take place at WrestleMania". WWE.com. Stamford, Connecticut: WWE. Retrieved March 13, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  5. ↑ Keller, Wade (April 2, 2018). "KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 4/2: Final WrestleMania 34 hype including Triple H & Stephanie in ring with Angle & Ronda Rousey, last chance for Undertaker to response, Reigns-Lesnar hype". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  6. ↑ Stride, Sam (March 13, 2018). "WWE face fans backlash after they announce the 'Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal'". Daily Mirror. London: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Stonehouse, Gary (March 16, 2018). "NOT SO FAB WWE forced into Fabulous Moolah Memorial WrestleMania Battle Royal U-turn after allegations of pimping against legend". The Sun. London: News UK. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  8. ↑ Ahmed, Tufayel (March 13, 2018). "WWE announces Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal, but the wrestler has a troubling legacy". Newsweek. New York City: IBT Media/Newsweek Media Group. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  9. ↑ Powell, Jason (March 13, 2018). "WWE Raw Hit List: John Cena challenges Undertaker to a WrestleMania match, no Brock Lesnar, Vince McMahon suspends Roman Reigns, tag team battle royal, Fabulous Moolah battle royal". ProWrestling.net. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Last RowMedia, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  10. ↑ Bixenspan, David (March 14, 2018). "Fans Are Revolting Against WWE Honoring Fabulous Moolah, With Good Reason". Deadspin. United States: Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  11. ↑ Satin, Ryan (March 13, 2018). "Fabulous Moolah Trainee Speaks Out Against WWE Tribute, Claims Hall Of Famer "Pimped Women"". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Los Angeles: Ryan Satin, LLC. Retrieved March 15, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  12. ↑ Maglio, Tony (March 14, 2018). "'Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal': Petition for WWE to Change Match Name Approaches Signature Goal". TheWrap. Los Angeles: The Wrap News Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ "WWE Announces Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal Name Change". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Los Angeles: Ryan Satin, LLC. Retrieved March 16, 2018. templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  14. ↑ Fiorvanti, Tim. "WWE changes name of WrestleMania's women's Battle Royal". ESPN.com. United States: ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ Jorgensen, Jack (March 15, 2018). "Amid controversy, WWE changes name of first WrestleMania women's battle royal". CBS Sports. New York City: CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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