For a long time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), there was only one prized belt that female wrestlers competed for. The title known as the Women’s Championship was held by some of the best in the business including Trish Stratus, Lita and Victoria. In 2002, after the WWE Women’s Championship was defended on Raw and Smackdown, a change was made. The women’s title became exclusive to the Raw television show and only WWE Divas on Raw competed for it. It was subsequently contested on four different occasions on Smackdown, with Smackdown’s Torrie Wilson, Nidia, Melina and Ashley Massaro each trying for the belt on separate occasions. None of these WWE divas won the belt, and it remained the coveted women’s title on Raw. It wasn’t until earlier this year that a new title for the divas was added and made exclusive to Smackdown.
On June 6, 2008, Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero decided that her show needed championship gold for her divas as well. Vickie announced that she would be creating a new WWE Divas Championship belt. The belt itself was introduced on the July 4, 2008 episode of Smackdown and featured the color pink. The General Manager of Smackdown held a series of matches to decide who would fight for the title. Two separate “Gold Star on a Pole” matches were held in which the first diva to scale the corner of the ring and retrieve a gold star that she was hanging from a pole would win. The match featured divas like Victoria, Maryse, Cherry, Natalya and Michelle McCool. One match was won by Natalya, while the other was won by Michelle McCool. The two WWE Divas would meet at the Great American Bash in Uniondale, New York on July 20, 2008.
At the Great American Bash Pay-Per-View, it was Michelle McCool who was able to defeat her opponent Natalya in the first title match. Michelle won the title via submission, using a Brazilian Heel Lock to force Natalya to submit. Michelle etched her name in WWE history by becoming the first WWE Diva to win the WWE Divas Championship. Until now, Michelle has been the only WWE Divas Champion, as she has successfully defended the title against Natalya and Maryse. Both the Raw and Smackdown brands now enjoy competitive diva divisions thanks to the creation of the new belt. On Raw, the divas continue to battle for the coveted women’s title and on Smackdown, the newly created WWE Divas Championship has earned its place in WWE history.
