Divas Championship Belt: The Legacy of WWE’s Women’s Title from 2008 to 2016
The Divas Championship was the premier women’s title in WWE from 2008 to 2016. Created as a counterpart to the WWE Women’s Championship, the Divas title became the sole women’s championship in WWE after unifying with the original women’s title in 2010. Though it was criticized for its "butterfly" belt design, the Divas Championship played a crucial role in WWE’s women’s division before the transition to the Women's Revolution and the current WWE Women's Championship.
History of the Divas Championship
Before 2008, WWE had only one women’s championship, which was exclusive to Monday Night Raw. With the expansion of the women’s division on SmackDown, WWE introduced a second women’s title to create equal competition across both brands. General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced the creation of the WWE Divas Championship on July 4, 2008.
The first-ever Divas Champion was Michelle McCool, who won the title at The Great American Bash 2008, defeating Natalya. Over time, the championship became the primary title for women’s wrestling in WWE and played a significant role in the careers of top WWE female superstars.
Unification with the WWE Women’s Championship
In 2010, WWE unified the Divas Championship with the original Women’s Championship, which had been active since 1956. At Night of Champions 2010, Michelle McCool defeated Melina to unify both titles, officially retiring the WWE Women’s Championship and making the Divas Championship the sole title for WWE’s women’s division.
Notable Divas Champions
Michelle McCool
Michelle McCool was the first-ever Divas Champion and a two-time holder of the title. She was also the first woman to unify the Divas and Women's Championships, making her one of the most influential female superstars in WWE history.
AJ Lee
AJ Lee was one of the most popular and dominant Divas Champions. She held the title for a record 295 days, making her the longest-reigning Divas Champion in history. Her feud with Paige and pipe bomb promo against WWE’s treatment of female wrestlers helped push the movement toward the Women’s Revolution.
Paige
Paige made history by winning the Divas Championship on her first night on the main roster in 2014, defeating AJ Lee. This made her the youngest Divas Champion ever at 21 years old. Paige’s success helped transition the division from the "Divas era" into a more athletic and competitive era.
Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella holds the record for the longest single reign as Divas Champion (301 days). She played a major role in elevating the championship during the late Divas era, defending it against top competitors like Charlotte Flair, Paige, and Naomi.
Charlotte Flair (Final Divas Champion)
At WrestleMania 32 in 2016, WWE retired the Divas Championship and introduced the new WWE Women’s Championship to replace it. Charlotte Flair defeated Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks in a Triple Threat Match to become the final Divas Champion and the first WWE Women's Champion of the modern era.
Divas Championship Belt Design
The Divas Championship belt was one of the most controversial title designs in WWE history.
- The belt had a large butterfly-shaped center plate, symbolizing the "Divas" branding.
- The color scheme featured pink and silver, emphasizing a more feminine aesthetic.
- Unlike traditional WWE titles, the design was criticized for being too flashy and not taken seriously by many wrestling fans and wrestlers.
Impact of the Divas Championship on Women’s Wrestling
Despite the criticism of its design and branding, the Divas Championship played an important role in WWE’s women’s wrestling evolution.
- It was the top women’s title in WWE for eight years, helping establish stars like Nikki Bella, Paige, AJ Lee, and Charlotte Flair.
- It paved the way for the Women’s Evolution, leading to the rebranding of WWE’s female division from "Divas" to "Superstars," equal to their male counterparts.
- The division gradually shifted toward more athletic and competitive wrestling, thanks to performers like AJ Lee, Paige, Natalya, and Charlotte Flair.
End of the Divas Era and the Birth of the Women's Championship
At WrestleMania 32 in 2016, WWE officially retired the Divas Championship and introduced a new WWE Women's Championship, similar in design to the WWE World Championship. This marked the end of the Divas era and the beginning of the modern Women’s Division in WWE. Since then, WWE has treated its female superstars as equals, giving them main-event spots and multiple top-tier championships.
Legacy of the Divas Championship
- The Divas Championship remains a key part of WWE history, representing a transitional phase in women's wrestling.
- Many of today’s top female superstars started their careers in the Divas division before the Women's Evolution.
- The title was held by some of the greatest female wrestlers, including AJ Lee, Paige, Nikki Bella, and Charlotte Flair.
Though the Divas Championship no longer exists, it played a crucial role in shaping the modern WWE Women’s Division and remains an important part of WWE’s history.