WWE: 10 Women Who Deserve To Be In The Hall Of Fame

1. Mildred Burke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mpEHziEVjQ That's right, the top spot on this countdown goes to Mildred Burke. Although she was never part of WWE, the fact is had there been no Mildred there would have been no "Fabulous" Moolah, and because of that, there would've been no Sherri Martel, Luna Vachon, or Wendi Richter. Women like Trish, Lita, Sable, Ivory, Chyna, and Jacqueline would've found themselves in other careers most likely had it not been for a woman who fought for her right to step into the ring in the face of adversity. And it all began when she started wrestling men at carnivals. After marrying her trainer and manager, Billy Wolfe, Burke defeated Clara Mortenson for the NWA Women's Championship in January of 1937 to become the first champion. In the 30s, Burke had faced approximately 200 men, having only lost once. Wolfe and Burke divorced in 1952 thanks to Wolfe's extramarital affairs with other female wrestlers, who he often tried coercing into sexual partnerships with either himself or other promoters in order for them to guarantee extra bookings. He had once told this to a disgusted young woman that would later be known as "The Fabulous" Moolah, causing a falling out that would later come back to haunt her when she later won the NWA Women's Title herself. The bitter divorce between Wolfe/Burke led to Wolfe trying to make Burke's life difficult, as they began competing for female wrestlers for their promotions and Wolfe broke a binding agreement that would keep him from taking part in wrestling for five years. In 1954, Burke defended her NWA Women's Championship against June Byers, Wolfe's daughter-in-law. The contest turned into a legitimate fight that ended with the match being thrown out and the title being stripped from Burke! Burke, ever resilient, continued to recognize herself as champion and defended the belt accordingly until her retirement in 1956. In the early 1950s, prior to the shoot fight with Byers, Burke founded the World Women's Wrestling Association and a Japanese tour of Burke's company inspired other women's wrestling promotions to pop up in the Land of the Rising Sun, giving way to the World Wide Women's Wrestling Association. Burke was such an influence that the belt she had taken from the NWA after her match with Byers was revived in 1970 as the main championship for the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling promotion. Sadly, this amazing trailblazer died of a stroke on February 18th, 1989 but was posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 as its first female inductee. Although she never spent time in World Wrestling Entertainment (much like Hall of Famer Verne Gagne), she's been referenced on commentary by the likes of Matt Striker and Jim Ross. Burke's influence and tenacity helped women's wrestling in ways that most people may never realize. I can only hope one day WWE realizes this and uses their own resources to educate their audience.