source: sportskeeda
This past Monday, a video package was shown on Raw honoring the Fabulous Moolah, a legendary women's wrestler who, WWE claims, paved the way for women's wrestling and women in sports. She competed for over 50 years, beginning in a time where women's wrestling was unpopular and even frowned upon. She was WWE's first ever Women's Champion, holding the title for 27 years.
Upon honoring Moolah, WWE announced a new match at WrestleMania: the Fabulous Moolah Women's Battle Royal. Akin to Andre the Giant's battle royal in previous WrestleManias, several women will compete in an over the top rope battle royal, with the winner taking a trophy and earning more opportunities for themselves.
source: online world of wrestling
While it's no doubt that Moolah had an amazing, trail blazing career, she has been met with controversy. Several women that she trained and worked with have accused her of sexual exploitation and financial impropriety.
She was reported to make over a million dollars by training young women at a compound, charging them for rent and expensive training fees. Women were living in debt to her, and she allegedly controlled their lives, which included sex trafficking.
As always, WWE is editing the history of their legends to hide the negativity and injustice that the real people behind the characters have been involved in. However, it's always difficult to separate the character from the person. It's not always clear where to draw the line between someone's legacy and the controversial actions they've committed: this goes for actors, musicians, and pretty much anyone in the spotlight.
source: forbes
While it's unfortunate that Moolah did such horrible things, it's not surprising that WWE seeks to honor her career as an attempt to further the Women's Evolution. Obviously, WWE does not endorse the terrible things Moolah has done. They strictly want to honor her wrestling career, and when women are inspired by her, they aren't inspired by her financial trickery or sexual trafficking.
This should be seen as it was intended--a new way for Women to make it onto the WrestleMania card and a new step for equality in Women's wrestling. I don't doubt that it may take a little while, but like the Ultimate Warrior award (which received push back for Warrior's bigoted and homophobic statements), the true purpose will come to pass the importance of the name.
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