Nikki Bella unveils cross era Mount Rushmore of women's wrestling

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella said in a recent online interview that her personal Mount Rushmore of women’s wrestling features Mae Young, Trish Stratus, Rhea Ripley and Natalya Neidhart, a selection she said was meant to represent different eras and the evolution of the division. Bella described the picks as an attempt to honor pioneers, iconic stars and current game-changers who helped build and transform women’s wrestling.

Bella told the interviewer that naming only four wrestlers was difficult because each era has its own quartet of influential performers. "You could actually do a Mount Rushmore in every era of female wrestling," she said, adding that she tried to span generations. She cited Mae Young for her early contributions, Trish Stratus for her impact in a later era, Rhea Ripley for what she is doing in the present, and Natalya Neidhart for her family legacy and long career. Bella referred to Natalya as Nattie and noted that, as the only female from the Hart family to reach that level, she carries a unique legacy and pressure that she believes is underappreciated.

Bella’s comments mixed admiration for pioneers with attention to contemporary stars. Mae Young, who spent...