5 times WWE involved a dead wrestler in storylines

#1 Mae Young, 2017

Hosting a women's tournament branded under her name paid tribute to the legendary Mae Young.

Mae Young wrestled for WWE long, long ago, though contemporary fans remember her better for her role in the Attitude Era and periodic appearances in the years to follow. In these instances, she was the old woman who still saw herself as a sex symbol and still wasn’t afraid to mix it up in the ring despite her increasingly geriatric state.

While WWE had traditionally celebrated The Fabulous Moolah as its Babe Ruth-like legend of women’s wrestling, they shifted gears in 2017 to honour Young instead. Maybe it’s Moolah’s checkered reputation as she allegedly pimped out women she wrestled. Maybe it’s Young having outlived her friend and remained a familiar presence for more recent WWE fans.

Regardless, WWE wound up applying Young’s name to a groundbreaking tournament on the WWE Network, featuring a variety of female talents from around the world and WWE’s own developmental system. The tournament was a creative success that featured some very good performances, helped establish a handful of rising stars, drew viewers, and celebrated Young’s legacy for a new audience.

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