Former WWE Superstar Maria Kanellis has addressed what she believes is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding WWE’s Divas era, revealing that the women were actively pushing for better opportunities, longer matches and more meaningful storylines behind the scenes.
During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Kanellis was asked what she considers the most misunderstood aspect of the Divas era, a period often criticized for placing greater emphasis on appearance and entertainment segments than in-ring competition.
Kanellis explained that the perception that female performers were uninterested in wrestling or delivering quality matches was far from the truth.
“That we didn’t care about wrestling, that we didn’t care about putting on the best match as possible. I didn’t get into the business to be a wrestler, but what I did get into the business for was to perform and to make people believe. So we cared deeply. We wanted more time. We wanted better stories. We wanted to be taken seriously.”
Kanellis went on to reveal that the women frequently advocated for changes to the types of segments they were asked to perform, including bikini competitions and other matches that prioritized spectacle over wrestling.
She recalled one particularly dangerous incident involving Layla during a water-based match, explaining how the slippery conditions contributed to an injury.
“We were fighting backstage. We were fighting to not have to do a bikini competition. We were fighting to not have to do a water fight in the ring that was the most slippery thing ever. I’m bleeding as I’m coming back because we had slipped. Layla had thrown a forearm or something, and I slipped at the same time, and then my nose is just bleeding. Those matches, at times, were fun, but at the same time, they were a little dangerous.”
Despite those frustrations, Kanellis emphasized that she still has fond memories of the era and enjoyed many of the entertainment opportunities that came with her WWE career.
She noted that the women were capable of enjoying those segments while simultaneously pushing to be treated more seriously as performers.
“So we were fighting to be taken seriously, but the other thing was, we were having a good time. We were having fun doing those things. I look back, and I think of some of my fondest moments as being able to perform with Ric Flair, Cena, The Rock, and a lot of the other guys that were there at that time. So, yeah, I think that would be it.”
Kanellis’ comments highlight the challenges female WWE performers faced during the Divas era, particularly when attempting to secure greater creative opportunities and recognition for their work.
While acknowledging that some of the segments were enjoyable, she stressed that the women wanted more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and contribute to compelling storylines.
Her remarks also challenge the suggestion that performers of that generation were content with the limitations placed on women’s wrestling, emphasizing that many were advocating for change long before the division evolved into its modern form.
