Wrestlemania 35: Why is a main female event a "big step forward"?

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Struggling women were once marginalized in favor of men, and at WWE they had to compete in their own league "Divas".

But at Wrestlemania 35, WWE is hosting its first all-female main event.

During its 35-year history, Wrestlemania's main event saw The Rock, Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker compete for the WWE First Prize.

This year, Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will host the biggest moment of the wrestling calendar.

For many women in the industry, this does not change anything that they would never have thought to see.

"For a long time, the wrestling industry has considered women as second clbad citizens," said Rihannon Docherty, who wrestles under the pseudonym Rhia O'Reilly, at BBC Newsbeat.

"In the beginning, they were just there for their appearance and it was over."

In addition to wrestling herself, Rhia trains other wrestlers within the UK's Eve Academy, an all-women's wrestling group for women aged 18 and over in East London .

She says seeing WWE put women at the center of their biggest event will inspire other companies to do the same.

"WWE is considered the spearhead of the fight for most people and if they do, it will be reflected," says Rhia.

"Whether as a wrestler, manager, promoter, technician – no matter what you want to do, it's the best time for everyone, but especially for women."

Matches & Bra & Panties & # 39;

But Emily Reed, who founded the Eve Academy, remembers the very different situation of women in the industry.

"They hired many women who were models and then taught them the basics of the fight," Emily said.

She said the games where women had to undress to win – known as the "Bra and Panties" events – were "disgusting".

"It was literally a bikini contest and disguise," she says.

"That's not how you treat women who are supposed to be there like wrestlers, like men."

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Emily said that outside the WWE, women were arguing before what's called "toilet break" matches, giving fans time to go to the bathroom or take a drink at the bar before the event's poster heads take up the ring.

She is delighted to see an all-female main event at Wrestlemania 35.

"It's a huge step forward," says Emily.

But she says it's only the first step in equal billing for women fighting and that they "still need to lobby".

And of course, the main event of Wrestlemania 35 also arouses the interest of some of the WWE professionals.

"It's just motivating and encouraging for all of us," says WWE star, Naomi, to Ace, of 1Xtra, who is attending the New Jersey event.

"Who knows what will be next after that? I really think it's only the beginning. I think more doors will open and more opportunities for women."

Lacey Evans says it's just one of many obstacles that women continue to fight.

"It's probably one of the biggest ones – it's just up to us to continue down that path and continue to prove to the world that women are capable of," she said. to Ace.

My Tinder matches want to beat me

However, while changes are observed at the highest level of the industry, there is still much to be done locally, according to some trainees of the Eve Academy.

"I'm fighting on my Tinder profile," says Anna Dobbie, who fights as Goldyloxx.

She says people use her sport to make unwelcome badual suggestions.

"Half of the people will approach me and say," Can we fight one day? "It sets me apart and blocks me immediately."

"It's my hobby, I do not do it for that reason and the fact that you've immediately done it, I find it really disturbing."

She also says that she attended recent women's wrestling events where men in the audience challenged women in the ring, asking them to undress.

Leevanya Mahendrarajah, who claims to be "addicted to the fight" and to his "adrenaline rush", thinks this happens again when people are unaware of changes in the industry.

"From an outside point of view, people who did not participate in the fight do not see the small changes that are happening," Leevanya told Newsbeat.

"If you are a wrestling fan or a wrestler yourself, you see all the changes that have occurred.

"But I think there is still a long way to go for women."

Anna and Leevanya claim that learning to fight has improved their self-confidence and Academy founder Eve, Emily, explains that most women who train find that it does not just change their lives. fitness.

"Women come here and we sit upright, maybe we hide in corners and we do not make noise," she says.

"Then they leave here screaming and shouting and standing tall and tall.

"I have begun to doubt that the main female event is Wrestlemania and I am so happy that there will be many women who will see that this can happen."

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