8 Times WWE Punished Divas On-Air

5. The Original Screwjob

No, Bret hart at Survivor Series 1997 in Montreal wasn't the first time a WWE performer had been screwed over live on air. More than a decade before that, WWE pulled the same trick on Wendi Richter, one of the top female stars of the 1980s.

On November 25th, 1985 WWE double-crossed Richter after instructing The Fabulous Moolah (wearing a mask as The Spider Lady) to legitimately pin her shoulders to the mat, when Richter had been told that she would be the won winning. The reasons for doing so were, naturally, petty and a punishment for daring to cross Vincent Kennedy McMahon.

Richter, then the WWF Women's Champion, had been handed a contract extension mere moments before a live MTV special and forced to sign. Richter, who quite reasonably wanted her lawyers to look the thing over first, neglected to do so. She and the company already had a strained relationship, since she constantly asked for improved pay as she became a more featured performer. Once again, a reasonable request.

So Vince instructed Moolah to win the title by any means necessary. Despite the fact that Richter clearly kicked out of the small package at 2, the ref counted the three and handed the strap to the 'Spider Lady'. As the realisation sunk in, Richter reportedly left the arena while still wearing her gear and didn't speak to Vince or Moolah for many, many more years.

WWE did try and fix the relationship a little, offering Richter a place in the Hall of Fame in 2009 (which she accepted), but it doesn't take away from the fact that it was a really scummy thing to do. Richter deserved far, far better.