‘The World Today Is Much More Respectful’: Dwayne Johnson Claims Role of a Female Wrestler Was Tough During WWE’s Attitude Era

Published October 22, 2023, 8:30 AM EDT

In its decades long run, the WWE has had many female wrestlers ply their trade. While top superstars like Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair run the women’s division now, there was a time when Hall of Famers Lita, Trish Stratus and Chyna held the reins. However, arguably, the treatment of women wrestlers wasn’t the same then.

One of the biggest superstars in the pro wrestling world, Dwayne Johnson, recently expressed his opinion about the issue. Do you know what The Rock said?

Dwayne Johnson exposes the gaping hole in WWE’s Attitude Era

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Johnson sat with close friend Kevin Hart on his talk show program – Hart to Heart – in August and shared his views on a series of questions. One was the state of female wrestlers in the WWE during the late 90s and early 2000s.

When Hart asked him what he felt about the differences between the state of WWE during his day versus the present day, Johnson reminisced about the Attitude Era. He said while male superstars like himself, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker were enthralling the crowd, it wasn’t as easy for his female peers.

“It was tough, the role of a female wrestler in that business at that time was hard, man,” Johnson said. However, he acknowledged that there has been a change in the system, for the better.

“But the world, that world today is much more inclusive, much more respectful, much more, really creating and delivering efforts,” Johnson said. The Great One isn’t wrong in his assessment as WWE has gone from booking its women in questionable storylines and matches to giving them the spotlight at a WrestleMania main event.

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While the overall treatment has changed, the promotion has had some misses as well, which were criticized by fans and experts alike.

From Rhea Ripley Vs Charlotte Flair to Becky Lynch Vs Trish Stratus, WWE’s recent misses that angered people

Shortly after WrestleMania 39 on April 1 and 2, 2023, Ric Flair came down hard on the WWE for not booking her daughter Charlotte Flair’s bout against Rhea Ripley as a main event on night one. The Queen and Mami enthralled the crowd in a title match – SmackDown Women’s Championship – but it was a tag team title match between The Usos and Kevin Owens-Sami Zayn that was slated for the main event on night one at the SoFi Stadium.

Flair called out the WWE for breaking traditions as Ripley had won the Royal Rumble earlier this year and made the challenge to then champion Flair. The following night featured Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes’ bout for the former’s Undisputed WWE Universal Champion as the main event. Rhodes was the winner of the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble.

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Similarly, Becky Lynch was unhappy after her match against Trish Stratus was reportedly removed from the SummerSlam card. WWE’s decision was also panned by fans as they deemed the promotion let go of the momentum created by the two wrestlers by not scheduling their match at the August PLE.

Though Lynch and Stratus fought in a Steel Cage match at Payback in early September, a section of fans had lost interest in the feud.

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Still, the promotion has come a long way in terms of handling its women’s division. Do you agree with Dwayne Johnson’s assessment of the same?

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Written by:

Sudipto is a WWE writer at Essentially Sports. He holds a PG degree in Mass Communication. Being an experienced journalist, Sudipto has interviewed WWE Superstars Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus and more recently Ludwig Kaiser.

Edited by:

Donna Eva

‘The World Today Is Much More Respectful’: Dwayne Johnson Claims Role of a Female Wrestler Was Tough During WWE’s Attitude Era

Dwayne Johnson exposes the gaping hole in WWE’s Attitude Era

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From Rhea Ripley Vs Charlotte Flair to Becky Lynch Vs Trish Stratus, WWE’s recent misses that angered people