Throughout the month of February, Diva Dirt will spotlight one Black women’s wrestler a day. This won’t be a countdown, but just a way to shine light on the past and present Black women of the industry. So these daily articles will not be in any particular order.
Representation matters to marginalized groups, and here at Diva Dirt we focus on giving those individuals the recognition they deserve.
It may be January 30 and not quite February yet, but we are starting two days early to make sure we spotlight 30 different women.
With all of the introductions now behind us, let’s kick it off with the pioneer herself, Jacqueline.
Jacqueline started her in-ring career under the name Sweet Georgia Brown. She started her training and made an in-ring debut in 1988. In her early career, Jacqueline worked many different promotions including in Japan. She found a home in Memphis for United States Wrestling Association (founded by the Von Erich family) where she went under the name Miss. Texas. There, she became a 14-time women’s champion by swapping the title between the likes of Luna Vachon, Debbie Combs, and Candi Devine.
Well into the 1990’s, Jacqueline was set to appear in WWF under the name as Wynona, a valet for Jeff Jarrett. However, she left before debuting due to an injury. She found herself briefly in WCW alongside Harlem Heat before being signed by WWF in the late 90’s. She quickly entered into a feud with Sable and was the on-screen girlfriend to Marc Mero.
Jacqueline spent six impactful years with WWF/E, establishing herself as one of the era’s most versatile competitors. A two-time WWF Women’s Champion, she faced off against top names such as Stephanie McMahon, Ivory, Victoria, Molly Holly, Jazz, Lita, Trish Stratus, Tori, and many others. She captured her first title in 1998 when WWF reinstated the Women’s Championship after a nearly three-year absence following Alundra Blayze’s departure to WCW—making Jacqueline the first Black woman to hold the championship.
During her run, she formed the Pretty Mean Sisters (PMS) stable with Terri, later joined by Ryan Shamrock. Showcasing her wide-ranging ability, Jacqueline also crossed into the men’s division, becoming the first—and only—woman to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Following her release from WWE, Jacqueline moved to TNA to extend her in-ring career. She became involved in a feud with Gail Kim while serving as a valet for the Beer Money Inc. faction. Although she challenged for the TNA Knockouts Championship, the title ultimately eluded her. Her run with the promotion was relatively brief and came to an end after she formed a tag team with ODB.
Jacqueline’s impact on the wrestling industry is enduring. In 2016, she made history once again by becoming the first Black woman inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Her legacy continues through the many performers she inspired, including Bianca Belair, Naomi, Mercedes Moné, Jade Cargill, Nyla Rose, Alicia Fox, and countless others who would follow in her footsteps.
Let’s kick off Black History Month in honoring Jacqueline!