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From the days of Mae Young to Trish Stratus

to Charlotte Flair,

women's wrestling has always been a constant.

The moonsault, the hook, the three.

My God, Lita did it.

But in the last decade, the women in Sports Entertainment

have evolved the division into immeasurable heights.

Women's Money in the Bank ladder match.

Women's War Games match.

All women's Royal Rumble match.

Today we look back at the defining moments

of the Women's Evolution.

For the first time ever, women are in the main event at

WrestleMania.

I love this and I love this.

This is WWE's Greatest Moments.

Acknowledge me.

My God.

Stone Cold with a beer bath.

This is surreal.

Look at this.

He slammed him.

Welcome, everyone to WWE's Greatest Moments.

I'm Michael Cole, and on this edition, we're taking you back

to some of the pivotal moments of the Women's Evolution.

When talking about pioneers in the women's division, the top of

that list includes WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.

Trish has entertained audiences worldwide for a quarter of a

century now, and certainly carved a path for future

generations to prosper.

Without me, there would be no woman's revolution and I'm here

to make sure none of you forget it.

Stomping down that paved path was none other than "The Man"

Becky Lynch.

Over the years, Becky has carved out an impressive

legacy of her own.

At one stage, Trish, you were number one in this business.

But I have been able to have a career that

you could only dream of.

So what happens when past meets present in the dreaded

steel cage match?

In the history of the Women's Evolution,

Trish walked so Becky could run.

We wanted to go in there, change the game,

and dare I say, we stole that show.

This cage will tear your flesh.

Knowing we've told the story for so long,

this has to pay off big.

Like we knew that it needed to end up in a cage.

And Lynch is just going wild.

Trish was almost like taking up arms for her generation,

showing that they could be just as good

and on that night they were.

Young Trish is one of the greatest of all time-

Her generation ain't Becky.

I wanted the crowd to care as much as they possibly could.

And they did.

Not from up there-

Superplex.

That was one of those groundbreaking matches because

it really cemented what we could do given time.

Manhandle Slam.

What a match.

After that match, it was such a great milestone in my career

and I think I could have been pretty satisfied to have left

that as my last ever match, especially with someone like

Becky Lynch.

That match is in the running for match of the year.

In 2018, WWE held its first show in the country of Saudi

Arabia with the traditional values of the country did not

allow the women to compete, but WWE has always been at the

forefront of making positive and influential changes in the

world, and just 18 months later, it did just that.

One day before Crown Jewel 2019, it was announced that for the

first time ever, the country of Saudi Arabia would see women

competing in a match.

Sitting at ringside, it was a moment I will never forget.

Lacey Evans took on Natalya in one of the most important

matches in women's history.

Since I heard the news, I haven't even had a sip of water.

Just been like, so excited.

Have fun ladies.

Thank you so much.

I can't even imagine

the amount of butterflies that Lacey

and Natalya had to deal with before that match.

We were breaking barriers.

Ladies and gentlemen, you cannot overstate the importance

of this matchup here tonight.

It is the first time there has ever been a women's match

in Saudi Arabia.

I was just very excited to see that there was lots of little

girls and women who were looking at those two in the ring,

changing the way that people view women's wrestling.

Wow.

Great impact.

Off the top rope-

Moonsault connecting.

To see women competing in a WWE ring that opened up a whole

new spectrum of dreams for a lot of little girls who may have

never in a million years thought it was possible.

Natalya with Lacey in the Sharpshooter.

Is she going to tap?

She does.

Natalya makes history.

Felt like it was everything I'd ever worked for,

like, just coming full circle.

To be able to say that I'm part of the first ever women's match

in Saudi Arabia, it was very powerful.

It was a very surreal evening.

The Women's Evolution takes another step tonight.

In 1987, one of professional wrestling's most innovative

concepts was born- War Games.

Two rings covered by a steel cage housed some of the

most brutal battles in history as two teams

fought for survival.

In 2019, it was the women's turn to go to war.

Like Chuck D said,

"Wwelcome to the Terrordome."

NXT Takeover War Games.

It was like a game changer.

It brought more eyes to NXT.

Io Shirai, no, no.

No, Mamma mia.

Come on.

Oh, wow.

Oh, my.

I love intense matches where you just legit go out there

strong style it through and just beat each other up.

Oh my God.

Ripley looking for the Riptide.

Oh.

Riptide onto the chairs.

Ripley with the cover.

Ripley wins.

The match was surprising.

It was exciting and lethal.

It was like history-making.

Hats off to every single one of these women.

2002, WWE introduced a new concept-

The demonic structure known as the Elimination Chamber.

With over ten tons of steel, the Chamber was an unforgiving

as it was ominous.

This match shortened careers and provided

too many injuries to count- for the men.

However, in 2018, 16 years after his menacing debut,

the women of WWE were finally getting their opportunity

to feel the wrath inside this dreaded structure.

So it'll be Bayley and Sonya Deville

starting things off.

Every five minutes a pod will open in and another

superstar will enter this match.

This was a very important moment in the Women's Evolution.

Bayley top rope.

Elbow to Sonya.

First ever women's Elimination Chamber.

Six women locked inside this cage.

This is home territory for me.

Oh, Deville.

There's a lot of competitiveness and we all want

to be the best and we all want to be at the top.

When I saw these women coming to compete and leaving their

heart and soul out in the middle of that ring, it blew me away.

Tap out.

Mandy Rose, the first woman eliminated.

Mickie James takes down Deville.

Here's the cover.

Hooks the leg.

Deville eliminated.

My first Elimination Chamber match, it was very intimidating,

but I knew that we were in that position

because we deserved to be.

Oh my God.

Twisted Bliss from the top of the pod.

Alexa Bliss though rolling Bayley up.

Shoulders down and we're down to two.

I feel like the match couldn't have gone any better.

Oh, face first.

Cover by Bliss on Banks.

Congratulations, Alexa.

It's been a very long journey for the Women's Evolution

and a very proud journey.

Every time we've been given an opportunity to deliver,

I think our women over deliver.

This is about every little girl and woman at home in the

audience who have ever dreamed big.

This victory is for all of you.

For the better part of four decades, WWE has been crowning

its King of the Ring with a superstar who conquers his way

through a grueling tournament.

The King of the Ring.

Finally, in 2021, it was time to crown a queen.

The inaugural Queen's Crown Tournament was set as eight of

the top female superstars competed for the chance to wear

the crown, with the finals taking place at Crown Jewel.

It came down to Zelina Vega, Piper Niven,

then known as Doudrop, in this much anticipated contest.

This is going to be massive.

We will crown the winner

of the first ever Queen's Crown Tournament.

Once I actually

walked into the ring and stood across from

her, I remember thinking, "Oh, I'm going to soak

every bit of this up."

Doudrop looks to use her power and Zelina Vega her speed.

Zelina not going to want to rely on power.

The size differential is going to be too much

for Zelina to overcome.

We have a classic David/Goliath story.

Round and round we go.

Great move by Vega.

What an opportunity that is upon us right here.

Zelina may have her where she wants her.

Zelina declaring this one just about over.

Oh, wait a second.

Sidewalk slam.

Went for a big splash.

Vega moved out of harm's way.

Are you kidding me?

A code red.

Zelina Vega is the queen.

To see all of the men in the crowd bowing down to me,

my God, there was nothing like it.

First ever Queen's Crown Tournament.

It'll be talked about for ever.

We talk about women being inspired.

There are little girls out there that are watching Zelina

and they're saying, "Wait, maybe I can."

Defying the odds, Queen Zelina.

The long and storied history of women's wrestling has had

a lot of chapters written that gets us to the present.

In 2016, the female competitors were leaping out of an era that

once defined them as Divas.

I think we're seeing the greatest era of the women's

division in history.

Center of this movement, were three standout performers-

Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch.

The trio are set to face off in a triple threat match in front

of the largest attendance in WrestleMania history for

Charlotte's Divas Championship, but an announcement was made by

Hall of Famer, Lita, earlier in the night that changed all that.

The winner of the triple threat will be the recipient of

the first ever WWE Women's Championship.

WrestleMania 32 was the

most high profile women's match at that point in time.

This is for the WWE Women's Championship.

It was just such a powerful statement.

We were looking at legitimate female athletes

that could steal the show.

Frog Splash.

Moonsault by Charlotte.

When she did that moonsault, everyone died.

I never saw her do it.

Woo.

Ric Flair's been taken out.

I feel like I remember going "This match is awesome."

The crowd is loving it.

I'm loving it.

Everybody's having a good time.

Becky Lynch takes them both out.

Figure eight.

Becky tapped out.

Charlotte is now the women's champion.

She was ready to take the reigns and usher

in this new era of performance.

The celebration of a new era in WWE.

Debuting in 1988, the Royal Rumble has become the most

exciting event on the WWE calendar.

30 superstars compete for the opportunity to headline

on the biggest stage possible-

WrestleMania.

As the women's roster grew and featured some of the fierce

competitors that had ever seen,

Stephanie McMahon finally made

an announcement that was long awaited.

We will have for the very first time, an all-women's Royal

Rumble Match.

Up next is history.

For the first time ever, 30 women will compete

in a Royal Rumble match.

These women have been working for this kind of recognition,

for this moment, for this opportunity, I mean,

just to give them a chance.

I was on a whole other level.

I was trying to keep back so much excitement.

You got to see the amazing women that we have now mix it up

with the greats of the past.

And Michelle McCool.

There goes Liv Morgan.

Beth Phoenix, with Nia up on her shoulders.

Got the coveted spot of number 30, which was awesome.

Perhaps the greatest of all time.

All 30 women in this match were rallying behind one

another, and we wanted this match to go off perfect.

We're down to Asuka.

Nikki Bella.

Asuka is a history maker.

What an incredible night.

What an incredible match.

First ever women's Royal Rumble.

First ever women's Money in the Bank.

First ever women's Hell in a Cell.

What else could we possibly do to top all that?

Well, the most powerful woman, WWE Stephanie McMahon

found a way how.

Over 50 women then, now, and forever will participate in an

event called Evolution,

the first ever all women's pay-per-view.

It is history in the making from Nassau Coliseum-

Evolution.

I remember seeing the news that there was going to be the

first ever all-women's pay-per-view, and I was like,

"Oh my God, we've done it."

First ever all-women's pay-per-view event.

Classic Trish Stratus, the Stratusfaction.

I was just happy to see the event be successful.

I was happy to see every single match just surpass expectations.

I mean, the whole card just blew everyone away.

And I'm incredibly proud for being part of it.

What an ovation for the baddest woman on the planet.

Armbar.

Nowhere for Nikki to go.

She taps out.

It speaks to where the world is at.

It's nice to see women on the same playing ground

and as it should be.

You know what?

I think this is a huge victory.

Not just for me, but I really feel like we're finally on the

road to getting the respect that we've always deserved.

What a night it's been.

An historic night at WWE Evolution.

In 2015, the biggest talk of the wrestling world was NXT.

Once considered to be WWE's developmental brand grew into

its own identity and fans couldn't get enough.

At the forefront of this NXT movement were NXT Women's

Champion, Sasha Banks and Bayley.

Bayley's story was simple-

the underdog who everyone said couldn't win the big one.

In front of the largest NXT crowd at the time, there was no

better place for the hugger to prove her doubters wrong.

Nearly 16,000 rabid NXT fans have packed

the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Now it is all about the NXT Women's Championship.

I think that match was very eye opening

for the WWE universe.

It wasn't just two friends trying to see who was better.

It was war.

There's only so many times you can take being

mislabeled and misjudged.

Believe me, Bayley's had enough.

I just got to show everybody that I can be this different

side and I was taking myself seriously.

Seeing these two women go at it just gave the rest of us so

much hunger to want to do the same.

No, no, she won't.

Whoa whoa wait wait wait.

Reversal, reversal.

How did she do that?

Bayley reversed it.

She reversed Sasha's own move.

Here we go.

Bayley.

Bayley to belly.

Bayley to belly for the title.

Bayley has done it.

We wanted to be there, you know.

And we wanted to show them that we were good enough to be there.

And I think the fans that night, they were so happy for us.

Bayley is your new NXT Women's Champion.

What we saw Sasha and Bayley do set the tone for women's

wrestling for years to come.

We have now reached our history making

number one moment.

For years, the women of WWE had wanted one thing-

Respect.

Each and every woman that competed in that squared circle

desired an opportunity to prove that they not only belonged,

but belonged in the main event.

Three of the top superstars in all of WWE

with both championships on the line.

Main eventing WrestleMania is the dream.

It is the goal of every single red-blooded wrestler.

And Becky right to Rousey.

Oh my God.

I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

I told you.

I said I was going to Main Event and I did it.

And that's a full circle moment.

Oh my God.

Charlotte driven through the table.

Rousey is about to take it all.

Piper's pit.

Becky shoulders down.

They did it.

Becky Lynch.

Becky Lynch is the winner take all and is both Raw and

SmackDown Women's Champion.

I think more than any of our individual accomplishments,

we will all be remembered for the role that we played

in this moment in time.

When you get presented with an opportunity, you have to take

the ball and run with it and hit a home run,

and I think that's what those girls did.

There was never going to be another first.

There was never going to be another time when Becky Lynch

was ending WrestleMania walking out with two championships

with her father sitting in the front row.

And I wanted to make sure that I really enjoyed it.

It's so overwhelming.

Like, what a feeling.

Becky Lynch takes it all tonight.

The women of WWE have all something to be proud of.

They've all laid the groundwork for future generations to aspire

to be anything they want and have been

inspirations for millions.

That'll do it for this edition of WWE's Greatest Moments.

I hope you've enjoyed this look back at the defining moments of

what we proudly call the women's Evolution.