SoCal Val has hit out at the stigma against the WWE Divas era and branding, claiming it as “anti-feminist”

WWE referred to female Superstars as Divas for years, before retiring the term in 2016.

The Divas era has a stigma among wrestling fans who argue that it set women’s wrestling back, with the use of stipulation matches, and talent with little training.

Speaking to ‘Just Alyx’ Val claimed that there is still a place for the glamorous divas.

“I have no idea why anyone thought that [Diva] was a negative term. A diva, to me, was always a very empowering term.

“With all due respect to AJ Lee and others who are just casually dressed, and are not super-sparkly and glamorous – those aren’t my type of girls. I wanted to be a Torrie [Wilson] or a Sunny, I wanted to do the modeling shoots.”

In 2015, WWE made an effort to change their treatment of female wrestling, ushering in a ‘women’s revolution.

Val explained that the current environment which means that Divas-era attitudes are looked down on is prohibiting women from having a choice in wrestling.

“So the fact that we can’t have both [serious female wrestling and glamorous divas] now, I feel like, is very anti-feminist.

“In the sense that, feminism is about having freedom of choice. And if my choice wasn’t to be an athletic, super serious wrestler, that’s my choice! If my choice was to be sexy and a diva-type, that’s my choice.”

Since the Women’s Revolution, WWE has had women’s matches close out two WrestleManias (35 and 37: Night One.)

Val’s comments come after former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion Melina said she won’t look down on her time as a WWE Diva.