Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > Wendi Richter: The Legacy Of The Forgotten Women's Wrestling Icon, Explained

Home
News

Wendi Richter: The Legacy Of The Forgotten Women's Wrestling Icon, Explained

Posted: Sep 7th 2023 By: Lizzy Flanagan - TheSportster.com

Women's wrestling would have never had an evolution without the contributions of former WWE Women's Champion Wendi Richter.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that women, in any industry they pursue, will have to fight an uphill battle much steeper than their male peers. The pro wrestling business is no exception to this. Female pro wrestlers, even the most talented in the world, have to fight for television time, wages worth their talent, and respect from a crowd that is usually rampant with misogyny.

Wendi Richter is a pioneer in women’s wrestling who has long been overlooked. When most people think about progress in women’s wrestling, their mind inevitably goes to Evolution 2018, and WWE wrestlers like the Bella Twins, Mickie James, and Becky Lynch. However, the road they paved was cleared for them decades earlier, by the iconic Wendi Richter.

Wendi Richter's Rise To Wrestling Stardom

Wendi trained at the Lillian Ellison School of Professional Wrestling, a school owned by a woman we’ll hear much about in this story, The Fabulous Moolah. After making her debut in 1979, Wendi wrestled across the US and Canada. She made appearances in Stampede Wrestling, the Mid-South Wrestling Association, and Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association.

In 1983, Wendi signed with WWE and quickly went on her way to becoming a household name. Soon after she joined WWE, owner Vince McMahon brought in rock singer Cyndi Lauper for a feud with Lou Albano. Lauper and Albano knew each other previously because Albano played Lauper’s father in her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” music video.

Cyndi Lauper found an ally in Wendi Richter. At MTV’s Brawl to End It All, Lauper was in Wendi’s corner as she took on Fabulous Moolah, who was seconded by Lou Albano, for the WWE Women’s Championship. Wendi won the bout, putting an end to what was (at least according to kayfabe) the longest championship reign in professional wrestling history.

It was at this time, an era referred to as the “Rock n’ Wrestling Connection,” when pro wrestling experienced a major boom in popularity. Wendi’s star power was especially elevated during this time, too; she appeared as a character in the CBS cartoon, Hulk Hogan’s Rock n’ Wrestling, and starred in Cyndi Lauper’s music video for “She Bop.”

Unfortunately, not everyone was on Wendi’s side. Her rise to fame would soon be sabotaged by the very same woman who’d trained her and the chairman of the company himself.

Wendi Richter Vs The Fabulous Moolah Was The Original Screwjob

On November 25, 1985, Wendi defended her title at Madison Square Garden. Her opponent was a mysterious masked wrestler known as The Spider. During the bout, The Spider strayed from the plan and pinned Wendi’s shoulders down. Wendi kicked out at one, yet the referee (who was in on the screwjob) counted to three anyway. Wendi unmasked her opponent and revealed that it was none other than the Fabulous Moolah. Wendi was furious at this robbery, and immediately left the stadium without even changing out of her gear.

While Vince McMahon claims that he concocted the plan because Wendi hadn’t signed a new contract with the company, Wendi says that she was still under contract. She had regular disputes with McMahon about her pay, which could point to why McMahon wanted to screw her over.

Wendi Richter's Life After Wrestling

Wendi left the WWE soon after and spent the last 18 years of her career wrestling across the US as well as in Puerto Rico and Japan. She retired in 2005 and separated herself from the wrestling world thereafter. Consequent interviews with Wendi would reveal lingering, justified resentment toward the WWE. Not only was she still hurt by McMahon and Moolah’s betrayal, but she also expressed disdain toward the WWE’s portrayal of women in general.

Nevertheless, WWE offered Wendi a spot in the Hall of Fame Class of 2010. Wendi accepted and was inducted by fellow Golden Era star, Roddy Piper.

What Can We Learn From Wendi Richter?

Professional wrestling has seen a lot of unsung heroes throughout its history. Some are just underappreciated by fans, while others find themselves buried by the selfish actions of management. For women and wrestlers of color, mistreatment by promoters is all the more common, and even harder to fight back against.

Wendi Richter is a pioneer who was far ahead of her time during her WWE career. Her name deserves to be brought up when fans talk about the progress made in women’s wrestling, as she helped pave the way toward the Women’s Revolution of the 2010s. Hopefully, the wrestling world comes around and realizes just how incredible Wendi Richter is.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31

10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles

10-25

Sheriff Schultz Oct 25th Today!
Paige Turner Oct 25th Today!
Double D Oct 25th Today!
Phil Shark Oct 25th Today!
Halo Oct 26th
Eddie Williams Oct 26th
Anthony Wayne Oct 26th
Troy Graham Oct 26th
Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th
AWOL Oct 27th
Miss Linda Oct 27th
Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
MVP Oct 28th
Chris Smith Oct 28th
Jake Boulder Oct 28th
Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
D. J. Hall Oct 29th
Mischief Oct 29th
Debbie Combs Oct 30th
Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
Danny McShain Oct 30th
George Wells Oct 30th
Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
Jayson Boss Oct 31st
Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
Max Leon Nov 4th
Assassin 1 Nov 4th
David Jason Rose Nov 5th
Chris Chaos Nov 5th
Bill Decker Nov 5th
Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
Darin Matthews Nov 6th
Brian Faith Nov 6th
Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
Lu Kim Nov 6th
Ken Patera Nov 6th
Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
Joey Ryan Nov 7th
Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
Keith Watkins Nov 7th
Silverado Nov 7th
King Kong Bundy Nov 7th

1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

More Look Back In History

Most Active Members

Striker
Michael York
The Mayne Event
cphs_sweethearts
Talon

Oklafan.com v5 Beta

Wendi Richter: The Legacy Of The Forgotten Women's Wrestling Icon, Explained

Posted: Sep 7th 2023 By: Lizzy Flanagan - TheSportster.com

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

Most Active Members

Card Results

Tag Cloud