You can't discuss the history of women's wrestling without mentioning Madusa (aka Alundra Blayze in WWE). Before Trish Stratus had fans pining for more during the Attitude Era and the Women's Evolution put female superstars in the main event of WrestleMania, Madusa was a featured star in WWE and WCW throughout the 90s. In fact, she was about the only featured female wrestler in the WWE in the mid-90s.
Of course, most fans know Madusa as the woman who dropped the WWE Women's Title in the trash during an episode of WCW Nitro. That moment defined Madusa's career and had her on the outs with Vince McMahon and WWE for years.
She returned to the company in 2015 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. It was on that night that she reconciled with McMahon and had an inkling of what was to come for the women's division.
"All of a sudden, I hear behind me, 'Alundra.' I went, 'That voice.' It was Vince," recalled Madusa in an exclusive interview with Fightful. "I hadn't spoke to Vince since I left in 95. I went, 'Oh shit.' I turned around and we hugged, and hugged, and hugged. The first thing that spewed out of my mouth was, 'I'm sorry.' He told me that day...I knew when Vince looked at me and said, 'You are the reason, and you are where we're going in the future. You are the type of woman that we need. You are the role model of what we're going for.' Fast forward to where we're at now. I love this style. I'm living vicariously through all the women in this style. I was so ahead of my time. I get teared up when I see what's happening. I'm like, 'I should have been born later.' I'm very grateful to see where it's at, finally."
While Vince and Madusa made up in 2015, she still questioned his decision to axe the women's division in the 90s and believes she, along with rival Bull Nakano, don't get the respect that women from the Attitude Era get for paving the way.
"There's nothing wrong with Trish Stratus or all the other girls. It always starts right there. It always starts at the Attitude Era and forward. Fuck that," she stated. "It's a forgotten era behind there. Bullshit. I was pissed off when Vince let me go. Why would he let just the women go and continue with just the men? I'm gonna start a revolution because I had enough. Women don't need to be treated like this. Why do we get let go? I understood because Vince was going through a lot with IRS and steroid problems. He was trying to downsize. But why not let some guys go? Why the women?"
Madusa was released by WWE in 1995, which is when she jumped to WCW for the infamous "trash can incident." She spent six years in WCW before the company was bought out and she decided to make the transition to racing monster trucks.
She returned to the ring at WWE Evolution in October 2018, competing in the Women's Battle Royal under the Alundra Blayze name.
