Michelle McCool got one special Valentine’s Day gift from the board of WWE. Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced on ESPN’s “Get Up” that McCool would be joining him in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025! In an era where women’s wrestling was still not respected by the masses, she stood out amongst the rest.
She will join the “Cerebral Assassin” as the second inductee to this year’s class. The former diva had a short but impactful run in WWE. “Mrs. Deadman” will take her place in history right next to her Hall of Fame husband The Undertaker making all of her critics “Rest in Peace!”
Michelle McCool’s HOF Career
McCool arrived on the scene in an era that was most likely the toughest to be a woman in the industry. This was post Attitude Era, where women weren’t respected as athletes but as more of a sideshow for men to look at. McCool helped change the narrative of women’s wrestling in the mid-2000s. She entered the WWE Universe as a competitor in the former Diva Search contest as the runner-up losing to winner Christy Hemme. Although she didn’t win the competition the WWE talent scouts knew she could be a star.
The 2008 Great American Bash would be a highlight moment in McCool’s career. She defeated future Hall of Famer Natalya to become the inaugural Divas Champion. Who could ever forget the big butterfly belt? McCool would have a solid six-month reign as champ before dropping the title to Maryse on Smackdown on December 26 of that year.
The Great American Bash would continue to be a great event for McCool in 2009. She would go on to challenge Melina for the Women’s Championship. With the win, she became the first woman in WWE history to win both the Diva’s and Women’s titles.
In the last couple years of her career, McCool would team up with Layla making up the infamous “Laycool” team. This team was way before its time. Unfortunately, these two did not have a chance to compete for a Women’s Tag Team Championship. These two besties were inseparable even becoming Co-Women’s champions. These two talented individuals were not only great in the ring but would give some comic relief on the women’s side of things during the show. McCool would retire but make monumental comebacks at the all-women’s PPV WWE Evolution and being a participant in the Women’s Royal Rumble.
Final Thoughts
McCool may have had a shorter career than others but she was a pivotal part of women’s wrestling history. There was a time way before the Four Horsewomen, and after Trish Stratus and Lita set the bar that we as fans needed better competition in the women’s division. McCool helped elevate the division to where it is today. “Mrs. Great American Bash” should be proud of not only her accomplishments in the ring but with her accomplishments as a mother of two and wife to one of the greatest characters in wrestling history.
