WCW and WWE both had fewer opportunities for women in the 90s. Things started to change when the Attitude Era started. WWE branched out with a deeper women’s division and WCW eventually followed suit. Quite a few women worked for both companies during their careers. The playing field saw some ladies thriving more in one promotion over the other.
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WWE had a real division since the Women’s Championship was the top prize for the ladies in WWE. Unfortunately, WCW did not have a prize for the women for most of the run, but they did have more managers than WWE. Each story shows why one company used them better than the other. Find out just which booking team appreciated your favorite female performers more. The following female wrestlers were either better in WCW or WWE.
10 WCW: Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler was valued by both WWE and WCW, but she could be argued as the best female performer in WCW. The company did not want most of the women to wrestle since they did not have much of a women’s division.
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WCW fans fell in love with the work of Stacy when things were dire for the company. Keibler was one of the final few stars made in WCW before WWE purchased the company. WWE used Stacy well as a manager, but the WCW run made her a commodity in wrestling.
9 WWE: Tammy Sytch
Sunny, also known as Tammy Sytch, was the original diva in WWE. The charisma and beauty of Sunny allowed her to go over big time with the fan base. Sunny was even the most downloaded woman in the early stages of the internet.
The move to WCW came in 2000 for Sytch and her boyfriend Chris Candido. Sytch was released after Kimberly Page accused her of bringing drugs into the women’s locker room. Fans barely remember her in WCW, but Sunny was a legend in WWE.
8 WCW: Missy Hyatt
WCW made Missy Hyatt one of their first full-time female performers. Hyatt primarily worked as a manager before transitioning into a broadcaster. There was a time where Missy was the most popular woman in the wrestling business.
WWE tried to bring Hyatt in to replace Roddy Piper, of all people. The talk show segment “Missy’s Manor” was meant to replace the popular "Piper’s Pit." Vince McMahon reportedly canceled the show after disappointing tapings. Hyatt refused to get relegated to the Federette ring girl spot.
7 WWE: Luna Vachon
The in-ring work of Luna Vachon was ahead of her time. Vachon took the sport seriously and presented an intimidating presence. WWE found great chemistry when placing Luna with the equally intimidating Bam Bam Bigelow.
Sable’s career never would have reached the level it did for WWE if they didn’t have her feud with Vachon. WCW eventually signed Luna away from WWE and placed her in a feud with Madusa. WWE was just the better fit for her character work.
6 WCW: Madusa
Wrestling fans refer to her as Madusa if they watched WCW or Alundra Blayze if they watched WWE. Regardless, she was a top talent that led both company’s attempts at a women’s division.
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The WWE run was great, but they lacked the ability to book her in compelling storylines. Madusa returning to WCW to throw the WWE Women’s Championship belt in the trash showed which company she preferred. The storylines with the Dangerous Alliance in the early '90s and Randy Savage in 2000 were peak moments for her career.
5 WWE: Sharmell
Sharmell became a valet for WCW in the final year working with The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea and Kwee Wee. The talent was there, but she didn’t have enough time or the right wrestler to make an impact with.
WWE hired Sharmell when buying WCW and picking which talents to place into developmental. The real-life relationship between Booker T and Sharmell gave her the opportunity to join her husband. Booker’s only World Championship in WWE came as King Booker with Queen Sharmell helping him get heel heat.
4 WCW: Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel was outstanding as a manager for both WWE and WCW. The WWE run saw her finding success with Shawn Michaels and Randy Savage. However, fans who watched her in WCW saw her get even more involved in the matches.
Ric Flair added Sherri as his manager during a WCW Championship reign. Martel played a huge role in the matches of Flair vs. Hulk Hogan. Harlem Heat eventually added Sherri as their manager and it got them to the next level as a legendary tag team.
3 WWE: Molly Holly
Many wrestling fans forget that Molly Holly’s career started in WCW before she joined WWE. Randy Savage’s Team Madness faction saw Molly playing the Miss Madness character interfering in his matches.
The potential of Molly earned her the spot in WWE for a bigger role. WWE started back the women’s division with Molly becoming one of the most talented in-ring workers. Molly had great runs as the Holly cousin, superhero sidekick of The Hurricane, and an outstanding heel character for each.
2 WCW: Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson became the face of the WCW women’s roster after joining the company in 1999. The stunning looks and charisma of Wilson made her stand out right away when becoming part of David Flair’s storyline.
Wilson’s real relationship with Billy Kidman saw her working with him and the Filthy Animals while receiving huge pops every week. The WWE run saw Torrie add to her fame, but it is hard to envision it happening without the WCW success.
1 WWE: Miss Elizabeth
Miss Elizabeth was the first female performer in WWE to have a role in the main event picture. Randy Savage brought his wife into the company to become his manager. Elizabeth helped show a different side of Savage to make him more well-rounded.
WCW hired Elizabeth in the mid-90s with the goal of pairing her with Ric Flair. Elizabeth later worked with Savage again and became part of the New World Order. The soft-spoken persona made it harder for her to stand out as a heel. WWE understood this and always kept her as a face.
NEXT: Macho Man: 5 Reasons Why Miss Elizabeth Was His Best Manager (& 5 Why It Was Sherri)
