His son Tiger Ali Singh was briefly in the WWF. Other than that, the remaining 97% of the roster was male. What do you wish you were told when you started? Companies like SHIMMER were created to shine that spotlight on the quality of women's wrestling. Born in Calgary as part ofthe Hart Family, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret "Hitman" Hart is a Canadian icon who was a seven-time World Champion and captured 32 championships title,including the triple crown of top titles in both in WWF and WCW. He has also competed in TNA and became ROH World Champion. Born in Surrey, British Columbia, Earthquake was initially billed Canadian Earthquakein the WWF. It hasbeen a learning experience every single day of my career and it has all happened for a reason, keeping me both humble and hungry for the day I finally appeared on international television and showed the world what I could do. It's a night and day change from when I first started watching wrestling. Although the number "10" would have been a character-appropriate place for him, Shawn Spears isn't quite in that upper echelon (yet). We've seen women main event a pay per view. Only in the last year has women's wrestling started to have a permanent place on WWE TV, where fans are engaged in both the competitors and storylines. Born in Montreal, Ron Garvin is perhaps best known for defeating Ric Flair for the NWA World Tile in 1987. The Big Valbowski later worked for TNA under his real name of Sean Morley and today is a staunch advocate for thelegalization of marijuana.
They are my specialty because of my hardcore nature. Born in Calgary (and not Punjab, India as he was billed from), Jinder Mahal first competed in WWE from 2010 until 2014. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. I'm all for women's rights and equality, especially since the twoprofessions I've chosenare male dominated. [They showed me] women could be successful by being athletes rather than cheering on the male athletes or providing commentary on them. My body is strong enough (most days) to take the toll I put on it between working, working out, and wrestling. Born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, his feud with Roman Reigns last year was a compelling one. What do you wish you had been told when you started? Nothing. can be more beneficial for women's wrestling. It shows that being feminine doesn't mean being weak or fragile. Born in Calgary, Owen Hart was the youngest of the Hart children and is best known for his 1994 feud with brother Bret. I was never super into sports, but I still knew which athletes were popular and very rarely was it ever a woman unless it was in wrestling. No less an authority than Sports Illustrated ranked him Wrestler of the Year in 2017. Maryse Ouellet is a Canadian-American businesswoman, actress, and professional wrestler. That's why it's on TV. What do you wish you knew when you started? Born in Saint-Sulpice, Quebec, Jacques Rougeau Jr. is the brother of Raymond and son of Jacques Sr. Born in Toronto, TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim was one of the first women to have held the top women's championships in both WWE and TNA. What do you say to people who claim that wrestling is "fake"? Canadian fitness model and former wrestler Trish Stratus is known for her stint with WWF (later renamed WWE). Trained in ballet and gymnastics since childhood, Taya Valkyrie graced the covers of fitness magazines quite early in life.
Most locker rooms I have been in hold a 5-1 ratio of male to female workers, and men probably get paid twice as much. From Woodbridge, ON, Nicole is the Femmes Fatales Champion and BW Womens Champion.
Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Vampiro was one of the top names in Mexico during the 1990s.
I'm an independent woman. Born in Windsor (although he was billed as being from Poland), WWE Hall of Famer Killer Kowalski was a top heel in the 1960s and 1970s in territories including the WWWF and NWA. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Born in Orangeville, Ontario, WWE Hall of Famer Edge became one of the most decorated champions in the promotion's history, capturing more than 30 belts during a 15 year period, including 11 World Championships in WWE. I think I'm a feminist, but I can see how some people wouldn't agree. I wish someone had told me how consuming being a wrestler can be. Wrestling has changed so much over the years, but make no mistake, on TV or the independent scene, if you can sell tickets, you're money.
From hunting, to the tractors, to the quiet evenings, Lesnar enjoys tranquility when he's away from the squared circle. I don't regret becoming a wrestler or anything like that, but once you get into the business there's no leaving. In 2008, Maryse won the WWE Divas Championship and went on to become the third-longest reigning Divas Champion in the history of WWE. Just go after it if you fail, you still tried, which is more than what the majority of the world would do.
Xandra Bale is an independent wrestler known as the Suicide Blonde,who first came on the scene in 2008. Tony Khan Speaks On Willow Nightingale Ahead Of Death Before Dishonor, Huge Womens Title Match Set for Death Before Dishonor, Womens Match Set For ROH Death Before Dishonor Pre-Show, Tiffany Stratton Did Not Expect To Debut Quickly On NXT 2.0, Masha Slamovich is on a Roll, Intergender Matches Galore| Dishing Indies | 7.12.22, Britt Baker Qualifies For Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, Ronda Wants Charlotte, Her Championship, And Her Arm! I just consider it earning what I have. He captured both the WCW and WWE Championship before tragically ending his and his family's lives in 2007. The only thing IwishI had known is how difficult it would be to balance the career I picked with wrestling. I would consider myself a realist and not a feminist. It was a surprise for many fans who weren't aware that Lesnar currently resides in Canada making him an American-Canadian wrestler.
In addition to providing comic relief, Marellaalso held the WWEIntercontinental, U.S. and Tag Team championships. With his lengthy run as a Canadian icon of sorts, Iron Mike Sharpe had to be mentioned on this list. When I've needed time off to make wrestling in Japan a reality, I wasn't granted it. They would do what they need to do with their bodies in a healthy manner to perform their duties as an athlete, rather than putting on cosmetic masks and losing weight so they can fit in a size two. Currently known as The Bunny in AEW, Allie hails from Toronto, ON and made her pro debut in 2005. Today there are several Canadians in major and independent wrestling promotions. And with the premiere of GLOW(or Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) anew Netflixcomedy showcasing the lives and personalities of female wrestlers in the 1980s,starring Alison Brie and Canadian actress Ellen Wong coming this June, we're about to see a whole lot more of these inspiring athletes. You can't fake that. It used to be that the females had their place as managers, and maybe having one quick match on a show. Throughout the years there have been many excellent womens wrestlers from Canada, including Trish Stratus, Gail Kim, and many others. Upon retiring, he became a successful manager. While not always the most pleasant subject to talk about, Chris Benoit was born in Montreal, later moving to Edmonton, Alberta and traveling the world as one of the best technical wrestlers in the business.
I believe that life is fair game and it is ultimately up to an individual to fight because of gender equality, or fight for what they want. But with the recent rise of indieleagues, female wrestlers are being given more and more opportunities to make a name for themselves in the ring beyond the 'Bra and Panties' matches that flooded the WWE in the early 2000s. Then we considered the following criteria: How memorable were their runs in professional wrestling? It will only be a matter of time when the first transgender wrestler debuts. How successful were they in terms of championships and other accolades?
With his lengthy run as a Canadian icon of sorts, Iron Mike Sharpe. My scars show that what I do is real. Sami Zyan, a Canadian wrestler, currently works as a heel on SmackDown. If you'd like to be a part of this conversation, Tweet us at @canadianbulldog using the hashtag #Top50, or leave a comment below. Over the years, WWE has been blessed with some of the best Canadian wrestlers; from the late wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, to Hall of Famers like Bret Hart, the late Owen Hart, Chris Benoit, and Trish Stratus, to name a few.
I grew up with all boys playing football and hockey and watching wrestling, but I was never raised like, "she's a girl, she can't play with us." Coming from Canada rather than America, independent exposure is so limited even at the "highest" point. Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Rene Dupree is the son of legendary Maritimes promoter Emile Dupree. I've developed a double Scoliosis from bad bumps in the ring. Born in Toronto, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is arguably the most successful female wrestler of the modern era.
Male or female, when you attack that mat, the toll taken on the body is the same. And wrestling, I believe, is the same. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem.
He also was part of a wrestling family that gave us Paul "Butcher" Vachon, Vivian Vachon and Luna Vachon. It is because of seeing strong women in the Olympics, the WWE and American Gladiators that I knew I would be in my element as a professional athlete. Being a wrestler is really all about selling yourself to the audience, so in a way, the ritualistic intent goes together with monetizing the athlete.
In the WWE, Roode rose to fame as a former NXT Champion, and headlined the main roster as a United States Champion, Raw Tag Team Champion, 24x7 Champion and, more recently, as the SmackDown Tag Team Champion with his current partner Dolph Ziggler.
Although Davey BoySmith Jr. briefly had the nickname "Canadian Bulldog" while in WWE (and yes, years AFTER I began using it! Along the way, heheld almost two dozen titles, including the WWF/E Tag Team, Intercontinental, ECW and TNA World championships. Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Bobby Roode is a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, having spent more thana decade in that promotion, being with TNA right from the promotion's very beginning. Success comes from going after it.
Andsome wrestlers were just plain missing - whichmay be chalked up to the fact that we were just beginning this Top 50 business and may not have researched it as thoroughly as was needed. However, there were a ton of issues with it.
Yes. #IMPACTRecap Deonna Purrazzo and Mia Yim Main Event! Yes, if they are earned. In UFC style fighting, I protect myself. Heck! Absolutely none. I looked up more to female hockey players who had their "revolution" much earlier, when they were allowed to compete at the Olympics.
She has held the International Wrestling Syndicate Womens Championship for two years. I hope to see women main event a Wrestlemania one day. Natalya Neidhart is one of the most well known female wrestlers from Canada. Natalya Neidhart is a Canadian-American wrestler and columnist. Wrestling under his own name, Gouldieheld the Stampede North American Championship an incredible 14 times. The veteran on this list, LuFisto hails from Sorel, QC and made her debut in 1998. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, The Missing Link competed for many years as an amateur and professional under his real name Dewey Robertson. Born in Florence, Ontario, Eric Young is one of the few wrestlers who was with TNA through most of its first decade. For beginners, it only included wrestlers from the past 30 years. In pro wrestling, I protect who I'm in the ring with. On the current roster, superstars like Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Natalya, Robert Roode, and Edge are testament to the constant influx of Canadian talent to WWE. JewellsMalone AKA 'The Hardcore Princess'. Employers will tell you that they get it, but in most cases they don't. She has held multiple titles including the Impact Knockouts Championship. I've always found males to dominate in athletic sports, but it does look like women worldwide are starting to be recognized more as equals. I don't know if I can call myself a feminist. Most notably, Ivan Koloffended Bruno Sammartino's historic first WWWF World Title reign in 1971, but he also was a big name in the NWA and other territories, teaming with his "nephew" Nikita in the early 1980s and 1990s.
Joining WWE in 2013, Zayn had a run as NXT Champion before moving to WWE's main roster in 2016. Then I pray that there will be more and more intergender wrestling matches. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Christian was one of the few holdovers from the Attitude Era until retiring from WWE in 2015. Womens Trio Set For AEW Fyter Fest Night Two, ROH Womens Title Unification Match Set for Dynamite May 4th |WWT News | 4.21.22, Mercedes Martinez Talks About The Growth Of ROH Womens Division.
Born in Varennes, Quebec, Sylvain Grenier first rose to prominence as the crooked referee in the Hulk Hogan vs. From Winnipeg, MB, Rosemary made her wrestling debut in 2008. A star of SmackDown Robert Roode hails from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Alexia Nicole is a two-time PWA Elite Women's Champion singles and tag team wrestler. Now we have women likeNatalya, Charlotte, Sasha Banks and other stars competing in the main event of pay per views and shows. Born in Manhasset, New York, Chris Jericho was raised inWinnipeg, where he'd live until setting out to follow his dream as a teenager. How has the 'male dominance' of wrestling changed or digressed in your lifetime? Perhaps it's on the horizon? Therestill is male dominancein wrestling, but definitely not as much as there used to be. In fact, she has captured six World's Championships in the two promotions. We owe a lot to the women who paved the way in creating these opportunities. She is known for being part of The Beautiful People in TNA and Allure in ROH. So, to say that putting myself or my body through this is a positive influence is crazy (maybe as crazy as wanting to be a professional wrestler). She made her professional wrestling debut in 2013. Rosemary is always a contender and is part of the faction Decay.
This category has the following 41 subcategories, out of 41 total. I was always criticized and bullied for having bigger legs and muscles in grade school. Born in Calgary and the daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Natalya was the first female to be trained in the legendary Hart Dungeon by uncles Bruce and Ross Hart. The influence I want[to have on] women comes from how I stand up for myself outside of the ring. In 2019, he debuted at AEW's Double or Nothing PPV. I was far more influenced by male athletes. Championship and TNA Women's Knockout Championship and has been named one of PWI's Top 50 Females in Wrestling four times. WWE Hall of Famer Rowdy RoddyPiper was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (not Glasgow, Scotland, where he's been billed from), and became one of the top wrestling icons,Canadian or otherwise. The difference between a TV show and an independent show, is just that. The smile on my face when I am finished my matches shows others that what I do is my passion. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. Born in Whitby, Ontario, Test was trained by Bret Hart, Leo Burke and Dory Funk Jr. Born in Montreal, WWE Hall of Famer Luna Vachon had a career as a manager and wrestler, including runs in the WWF, WCW and ECW. From Toronto, ON, Angelina Love has been on the wrestling scene since 2002. She later returned to WWE as a manager for her real-life husbandThe Miz, and stars in the reality TV show Miz & Mrs. Born in Punjab but raised in the Toronto suburb of Milton, Ontario, Tiger Jeet Singh carved out a niche for himself as a hardcore villian throughout Japan. Born in Montreal, Maryse joined WWE in 2006 as part of the Diva Search competition. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Shawn Spears first gained fame as "The Perfect 10" Tye Dillinger in NXT and WWE. That means that outside of the wrestling world, women are surprised and impressed that someone my size (5'3") can be doing what I do.
In selecting the (updated)Top 50 Canadian Wrestlers, we included any professional wrestler who was born and/or raised in Canada - regardless of where they were billed from. They also provided a more realistic image of a woman who is hard working and dedicated. I wanted to become a wrestler because of guys like Macho Man, Chris Benoit, Owen Hart etc.
Currently in a feud with Seth Rollins, the Rated R Superstar is still very much active on the SmackDown roster. Let's be honest. The barbed wire on my bat is sharp and the scars on my body are real.
I punch themin the arm.
Born in Calgary and billed as "the last graduate of the Hart Dungeon", TysonKidd became unified WWE/World Tag Team Champions with David Hart Smith in 2009 and then held them Cesaro before suffering a injury and becoming a WWE producer. In the WWF, he was part of The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers and The Quebecers tag teams and won the Intercontinental Title as The Mountie. 5 Canadian female pro wrestlers on feminism, getting exposure and those who call their sport "fake" | CBC Life Loaded, "I kept getting better and stronger until they had to shut up and admit I belonged.". The Attitude Era was not kind to women's wrestling or women's rights as a whole. Kiera Hogan Talks First Moments In AEW, Her Match With Athena, And More! How well have they represented the country of Canada, either on screen or off?
Women shouldn't be afraid to put their all into everything they do. Afterappearing inAll Japan, Wrestling Society X and independent groups, Vampiro became an announcer on Lucha Underground. Hailing from Toronto, ON, KC Spinelli made her wrestling debut in 2009. To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements. Born in Oakville, Ontario (not Las Vegas as billed in the WWF), Val Venis rose (heh) to prominence withhis adult film star persona in the WWF beginning in 1998.
If you're popular and can increase ratings, you'll get pushed ahead of those who can't.
The list includes many familiar and great Canadian female wrestlers such as Natalya Neidhart, Trish Stratus, Taya Valkyrie, Maryse Ouellet, Rosa Mendes. In 2020, Edge returned to the ring after a lengthy retirement. That's how 80s women's wrestling was, with the occasional amazing match from the Jumping Bomb Angels or Wendy Richter. He also had tag team success in the WWF with partners such as Tony Garea and Tito Santana, and as Television Champion in WCW before retiring in 1998. Healso worked for the WWF, AWA and WWC throughout his career, where his hard punches earned him the nickname "Hands Of Stone.". In 2012, Pro Wrestling Illustrated named her as the top female wrestler in the world. Tragically, his life ended in 1999 after a stunt gone horribly wrong. The spotlight and opportunities deserve to go to those who earn it, male or female.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, John Tolos was one of the most vicious heels in the 1960s and 1970s. Women can be strong and feminine. She'sknown for the move 'World's Tiniest Canadian Destroyer', which is fitting, since she stands tall at 4'11". Do you call magic fake? No. Everything I have in my life is because I busted my butt to get an education and worked hard for everything I have. Having debuted in WWE in 2008, Natalya has held her fair share of titles, from the Divas Championship in 2010 to the SmackDown Women's Championship in 2017, making her the first woman in WWE to hold both these titles. In 2021, she signed with WWE. Nothing should be handed to anyone on any grounds. I'm for men and women being equal in all aspects of life, so I guess I am, but I've had some friends say that wrestling in short shorts and tight clothing and having my hair and makeup done can be demeaning to women. I have had several concussions, which serves as a warning that what I do is dangerous and that accident happen. She captured a record seven WWE Women's Championships before retiring in 2006. Especially now, when social media is such a big way to be seen performing your art, you don't need to rely on being with the televised promotions. Formerly known as Taya, Franky Monet made her NXT debut in 2021. Everything you do somehow gets related back to wrestling. Born in Sainte-Catherine, Quebec, PCO first rose to prominence as one of The Quebecers in 1993 (as Pierre) along with Jacques Rougeau, holdingthe WWF Tag Team Championships on three occasions,even reunitingthe team briefly in WCW. In 2008, she captured the WWE Divas Championship and became one of the belt's longest titleholders. I was only 15 when I started training, so I wasn't prepared for it. You need to be signed at some point to get to that next level.
What differences do you see between a platform like WWE or TNA for elevating women in wrestling vs. private and independently run companies? My brother and cousins treated me the same as everyone else which means I was being tackled and body-checked and learned to take a hit early in life. Now, there's more female talent showcased on major shows, all female promotions and more people taking women's wrestling more seriously instead of treating it as a bathroom break. The physicality makes me feel alive, but I think the drive and determination to go after what you want in life should be the more inspiring element for any man or woman debating whether or not to chase a dream. After acing the Lucha Libre AAA circuit in Mexico, she moved to Impact Wrestling. ), the son of Davey Boy Smith and Diana Hart was born in Calgary and won the WWE Tag Team Championship. She is best known for her appearances in WWE, where she is one of the most important members of the women's division. The Diva of the Decade and three-time WWE Babe of the Year has also been a WWE Hardcore Champion. I'm not proud of my injuries that I've had, but I'm not ashamed of them either, and I'm not afraid to put my body on the line for my passion.