"DIVA" - The Dirty Word That's Not Going Anywhere

"The Four Horsewomen" of NXT: (from left to right) Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch

If you've been watching WWE programming at all in the last six months, you know there's a revolution going on.  Whether you're a stalwart follower of NXT or a Monday Night Raw die-hard, you've probably become quite familiar with names like Charlotte, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks.  Over the last year, these women have blazed an trail of great women's wrestling that's not just reminiscent of the bouts of legends like Lita and Trish Stratus, but builds on that legacy and brings it to a new level.  The Divas Revolution is in full swing, and fans couldn't be more excited.

Don't let WWE fool you, though: while it may have been enthralling to watch this movement grow from its roots in NXT to a staple of the main roster, WWE has made sure to carefully brand this revolution under the much maligned "Divas" banner.  The women mentioned above may stand in stark contrast to contemporaries like Nikki Bella, Alicia Fox, or Eva Marie, they are still labeled the same: these are not women wrestlers.  These are WWE Divas, and that's not a mistake.

That term has left a bad taste in a lot of fans' mouths.  Most people associate the word "diva" with the likes of Kim Kardashian: someone who is famous for being famous.  In fact, a quick Google search defines "diva" as "a woman regarded as temperamental or haughty."  How many young starlets are christened the next "pop diva"?  It's a term that designates success over strength, looks over longevity, and pride over power.  WWE has worked hard to change that stereotype by infusing its roster with strong, beautiful, powerful women, but to the general public, it still seems strange to call the women of WWE "Divas."

Whether we like it or not, "Diva" isn't fading from WWE"s dictionary anytime soon, and while that may not sit well with some fans, it doesn't necessarily hurt the women who embody that ideal.  Instead, it's incumbent on WWE and those very women to prove that they will not be defined by social convention.

That's not to say that WWE has done itself any favors.  Anyone who has watched Total Divas will tell you that while the show does provide a peek inside the secret lives of not just the women, but even some of the men of WWE, it also features drama such as Paige and Alicia Fox arguing over their respective love interests and Paige's unwillingness to move in with her "bestie".  These women may be working hard to change perceptions in the ring, but their lives outside the ropes still manage to resemble those of Hollywood's biggest prima donnas, even if they lack some of the L.A. street cred.

But perhaps the most egregious act perpetrated by WWE against the female portion of its locker room (and its fans) in recent memory is the retirement of its Women's Championship.  As one of WWE's oldest and most prestigious titles, the WWE Women's Championship represented over 50 years of history and the legacies of champions from the Fabulous Moolah to Sherri Martel, Trish Stratus, Lita, and Mickie James.  Those legacies were cast aside in favor of a new title, christened the WWE Divas Championship.  If the name of the title wasn't enough of a slap in the face to long-time wrestling fans, the infamous "pink butterfly" belt design remains a source of angst for fans the world over, even a full five years after its inception.

While fans may clamor for the return of a more prestigious design for the title, don't expect to see the Women's Championship return any time soon.  Even if the WWE Universe isn't a fan of the word "Diva", WWE has set that four-letter word as a brand all its own.  Whether it's branding a revolution in women's wrestling, a reality TV show, or even just a section of WWEShop.com, being a WWE Diva is a prestige all its own in the eyes of the powers that be.

There's a reason the Divas division in NXT fights for the NXT Women's Championship: because being on the main roster isn't just about being a woman, it's about graduating to the level of Diva.

Don't forget: it was those much-lauded trailblazers like Trish, Lita, Ivory, and Jacqueline that helped establish the Divas division as far back as 2001, and it all happened in the shadow of what many believe to be the greatest era in professional wrestling.  One could argue that the women of the Attitude Era had less restrictions, but they also had more hurdles to overcome like Bra & Panties matches, bikini contests, and being tossed around from one love interest to another, including some involving Vince McMahon himself.

The stigma surrounding the Divas division has less to do with what word we use to describe it, but rather how it's presented.  The sparkly title belts are Strike One.  The contrived manner in which Stephanie McMahon brought in four NXT stars to "revolutionize" the Divas division is Strike Two.  Placing each of those women on a team in a sort of sorority vs. sorority scenario is Strike Three.

What made the NXT Divas so much better than their main roster counterparts?  Is it that the NXT talent are better wrestlers?  Probably not; after all, Paige, Summer Rae, Alicia Fox, and Emma all came up from that same system.  Is it that the NXT Women's Championship comes without the baggage of the term "Diva"?  Maybe.

But at the end of the day, it comes down to what happens between those ropes.  Having a great match is one thing.  Having a match that matters is another, and that is what the Divas division is sorely lacking.  Things are looking up with Paige finally stepping out to break up Team P.C.B. to face Charlotte for the Divas Championship at Survivor Series.  Meanwhile, Sasha Banks, who left NXT just when it seemed there was no stopping her, has gotten largely lost in the midst of her association with Team B.A.D. and a tired feud with the Team Bella.

It's time for these superficial teams to disband so we can see the fire that runs beneath.  Let these women showcase their strengths as individuals so we can invest in their words, actions, and matches. The roster is stronger than it's been in years, but until WWE takes off the proverbial handcuffs, the biggest opponent these women will face is the people they work for.