Remembering the Greatness that is Michelle McCool.

In light of Pro Wrestling Twitter striking up another conversation about the Divas of the past, let's take the time to discuss a woman who was an integral part of women's wrestling.

Let's get into the contributions of the former WWE Women's and Diva's Champion, Michelle McCool.

- Contestant in the First Ever WWE Diva Search

- First Ever Diva's Champion

- Only Woman to Unify the WWE Women's and Diva's Championships

- First Ever Women's Extreme Rules (Extreme Makeover) Match

- Royal Rumble Entrant (2018, 2022, and 2023)

Courtesy of WWE.com

But let's talk about the real reason we're here. For too long, fans work to dismiss the work of women from the Divas' Era with the exception of a select few. With so many looking to tarnish the wrestling efforts of these women, we'll take the time to praise them.

Michelle McCool and Big Show vs. Dawn Marie and Renee Dupree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjTxoR0a9RY

Dawn Marie, looking to make an example out of the rookie Diva, challenged Michelle McCool to a match against a partner of her choosing. Little did Marie and her partner Renee Dupree know, they'd be going up against a 7ft. 400lb monster like Big Show.

In what would only end up being a three minute match, with two minutes being dedicated to the women, Michelle proved to do just enough to win the fans over for the night. With a couple of flashy moves like a kip-up, and a cartwheel into a running crossbody, Michelle's fight and will to take a few risks would prove to be a foreshadowing of the career ahead of her.

Natalya vs Michelle McCool to Crown the First Ever WWE Diva's Champion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0qkJr6u83M

Time aside, this was a great showing from both women. The first ever WWE Divas Championship match between Michelle McCool and Natalya was a match that saw both women open up with some back and forth chain wrestling and very quickly establish their face and heel characters. From there, Natalya would be the dominant force in the match literally trying to bend and break McCool into tapping out. After escaping the Sharpshooter via rope break, McCool would reverse Natalya's second attempt at the Sharpshooter into a Heel Hook in order capture her first of two Diva's Championships.

Maryse vs. Michelle McCool for the Diva's Championship

https://dailymotion.com/video/xcdov1

The French Canadian Maryse, against Michelle McCool, the woman who was about to turn on her friend at the time and Special Guest Referee, Maria.

Considering the short time the WWE Divas Championship was around, we did get some memorable moments. This 10-minute match and post-match segment saw rising star Maryse, capture her first Diva's Championship in what was a solid back and forth contest. The story here was Michelle McCool's slow turn to the dark side as the pressures of being a champion got to her. Over the weeks, McCool had become increasingly cocky and overly irate with close friends Maria and Nikki and Brie Bella, The Bella Twins. Throughout the match, you can feel the tension building between Diva's Champion Michelle McCool and referee Maria. Solid camera cuts, noticeable facial expressions, and short dialogue displayed mid-match turmoil that spilled over into a distraction that helped Maryse secure the victory.

What happens after the match ends, is what really got everyone talking. Maryse hurries to the top of the ramp with the Diva's Championship and holds it up in celebration. As a wrestling fan, the moment you sense friction between a tag team, you are more than likely expecting one to turn on the other at some point. As the camera cuts back to Michelle McCool and Maria in the ring, you can see the audience awaiting the ball to drop. Maria explains that she called the match down the middle and seems a bit regretful that her friend lost. Michelle McCool plays it off momentarily with a forced side hug and walks to the other side of the ring. Before Maria can make her exit, McCool nails Maria with a single-leg dropkick, taking out her former friend. McCool then takes her time for the next few minutes beating Maria all over the ring and even takes it ringside. "You cost me the title," McCool says as she slowly makes her way up the ramp before the camera fades to black.

Long gone were the days of the bubbly babyface we had come to know. From then until the remainder of her career in WWE, Michelle McCool's heel persona would cement her legacy as one of the all-time greats in the women's division.

Michelle McCool vs Melina for the WWE Women's Championship

Both Melina and Michelle McCool have mentioned in interviews they were told that the match was "too good for a women's match." Luckily by today's standards, we can all recognize it for what it is. A really great match between two great Pro Wrestlers.

Right at the start, McCool interrupts Melina's famous entrance that entails her doing the splits on the ring apron, by drop kicking her onto the floor. A true heel move that got a great roar of boos from the crowd. McCool followed that up by sizing up the referee for trying stop her from attacking Melina again. It's the little things. Night of Champions 2009, Melina and Michelle McCool put on a hard fought vicious battle with several memorable moments including a DDT of the security barricade. During times where women on-screen largely had one-dimensional characters that were not explored much further outside the realms of sex appeal, it was refreshing to see an established cocky and gritty heel take on a fiery and flashy babyface.

Laycool (Michelle McCool and Layla) vs Divas of Doom (Natalya and Beth Phoenix) in the first ever Women's Tables Match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyQ2yqfjlws

It is a darn shame we did not have Divas Tag Team Championships years ago. The women were almost constantly in tag team matches in the mid-to-late 2000s, and we had well established teams like the two going head to head in the first and only Divas Extreme Makeover Match. The Divas of Doom and Laycool were running through the divisions on both Raw and Smackdown and their rivalry would come to a head at WWE TLC 2010. Michelle McCool and Layla were a key part of the then Divas division creating captivating moments. Though they were not always given the time or freedom, the women of pro-wrestling truly deserve their flowers for making every moment count.

Michelle vs. Layla Loser Leaves WWE Match

https://dailymotion.com/video/x10wq6x

Na-na-naah-nah. Hey, hey, hey. Goodbyyyyye. Though it was so hard to watch such an incredible talent leave with much more to give, there are moments and matches such as this that remind you why Michelle McCool should be considered one of the greatest to ever step in a WWE ring. Laycool spent months between Raw and Smackdown terrorizing the rest of the women and entertained the audience every step of the way. From a teacher, to a Diva Search contestant, to being a highly respected figure in the wrestling community. Michelle McCool, we salute you and all you give to the business.