Former WWE Divas Champion Layla has been making the rounds on the podcast circuit lately, and in her latest appearance, the British wrestling legend took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of her most underrated contemporaries from the Divas Era.[1] During her candid conversation on the No Name Wrestling Podcast, Layla reflected on her time competing alongside some of the most talented women’s performers of that generation, ultimately expressing her belief that several of her peers never received the recognition they truly deserved.
The discussion comes as Layla continues to remain active in the wrestling community, appearing at fan events like WrestleCon and maintaining her presence in the industry conversation.[4] Her willingness to champion her former rivals speaks to a maturity and perspective that often comes with time away from the rigorous demands of full-time competition.
The Divas Era: A Complex Legacy
The Divas Era remains one of the most debated periods in WWE women’s wrestling history.[1] While it’s often criticized for relegating women to secondary status and limiting their in-ring time, it also produced some of the most innovative and entertaining female performers the company has ever seen. Layla herself became the first-ever British Women’s Champion during her tenure, establishing herself as one of the defining figures of that time period.[3]
During her recent podcast appearance, Layla took a more nuanced approach to discussing this era, acknowledging both its limitations while celebrating the women who persevered and excelled within those constraints. Rather than viewing the period as entirely negative, she recognized the accomplishments of her peers who managed to break through in an industry that wasn’t always designed to highlight women’s wrestling.
Melina’s Technical Excellence
Among the Divas she highlighted, Melina emerged as a particular focus of Layla’s praise. The high-flying specialist was known for her innovative offense and willingness to take risks that weren’t always celebrated during that era. According to sources close to WWE’s backstage operations during that period, Melina was often championed by veteran performers for her work ethic and contributions to women’s wrestling, even when the company’s booking didn’t always reflect that respect publicly.
Layla emphasized that Melina’s technical abilities and match psychology deserved far more mainstream recognition than she received during her primary run with the company. The former Divas Champion pointed out that Melina’s matches often stole shows despite the time limitations imposed on women’s competitors, a testament to her in-ring prowess and storytelling ability.
Eve Torres’ Versatility and Charisma
Eve Torres represented another performer Layla felt deserved greater appreciation from the wrestling world. The multiple-time Divas Champion brought a unique combination of athleticism, charisma, and versatility to her performances. Layla acknowledged Eve’s ability to transition between different character types and match styles, skills that should have positioned her as a bigger star during that era.
According to industry observers, Eve was always considered a safe pair of hands who could be relied upon to deliver solid matches and maintain crowd engagement, yet she rarely received the main event spotlight that some believed her talents warranted. Layla’s recognition of this underappreciation reflects a broader acknowledgment that the booking decisions of that era often didn’t serve the women’s division fairly.
Natalya’s Technical Foundation
Natalya Neidhart also received significant praise from Layla during her podcast discussion. As the descendant of the legendary Hart family, Natalya carried considerable pressure and expectation, yet she consistently delivered in-ring performances that showcased technical excellence and strong fundamentals. Layla specifically highlighted Natalya’s mat wrestling skills and her ability to tell stories through holds and transitions—elements that are often overlooked in discussions of women’s wrestling during that period.
The former WWE Divas Champion noted that Natalya’s contributions to establishing credibility for women’s technical wrestling during the Divas Era should not be understated, even as the company’s overall presentation of women’s matches continued to evolve and improve over time.
Layla’s Own Career Reflections
Layla’s willingness to celebrate her peers also provides insight into her own evolving perspective on her career. In recent interviews, she’s opened up about regrets from her time with WWE, including wishing she had been part of the reality television phenomenon Total Divas.[2] These candid reflections demonstrate that Layla has had time to process her career with both pride in her accomplishments and some wistful thoughts about opportunities that might have elevated her profile even further.
Her journey from the Diva Search to becoming the first British Women’s Champion to navigating a career-altering injury and ultimately making a comeback has given her valuable perspective on longevity and legacy in professional wrestling.[3] This broader worldview allows her to appreciate the contributions of her contemporaries with greater depth and understanding.
The Evolution of WWE Women’s Wrestling
While Layla celebrates the underrated performers from her era, she’s also expressed enthusiasm about the current state of women’s wrestling in WWE. During her appearance at WrestleCon, she expressed joy about the progress the company has made in presenting women’s matches with greater prominence and time allocation.[4] She’s even advocated for the return of WWE Evolution, the all-women’s pay-per-view event that briefly existed before being discontinued.[6]
This combination of honoring the past while embracing the future reflects the wrestling community’s broader evolution in how it views women’s contributions to the industry. Layla’s voice in these conversations carries particular weight given her pioneering status as a British women’s champion and her longevity across multiple eras of WWE programming.
Legacy and Recognition
The conversation Layla sparked through her recent podcast appearances contributes to an important ongoing discussion in professional wrestling about whose stories get told and whose achievements get celebrated. By naming specific performers she believes were underrated, Layla is essentially asking the wrestling world to reassess its historical perspective on the Divas Era.
This reassessment matters because it helps establish a more complete and accurate record of women’s wrestling history. The performers Layla mentioned—Melina, Eve Torres, and Natalya—all made significant contributions to professional wrestling that extended far beyond their time in WWE, and many continued to thrive once the industry’s attitude toward women’s wrestling underwent fundamental change.
As WWE continues to evolve its women’s division and industry perspectives shift, voices like Layla’s serve an important function in ensuring that the pioneers and underappreciated talents of previous eras receive their due recognition. The Divas Era may have had its limitations, but it produced wrestlers whose talents and dedication deserve celebration and proper historical context.