The people most responsible for WWE's women's revolution

#5 Ronda Rousey

Contributing from the octagon

It was in her UFC, rather than her WWE career, where Ronda Rousey contributed to the women's revolution.

AJ Lee's public embarrassment of WWE came at the right time, because Ronda Rousey was having major success in the UFC. She was a major draw for the company, often grossing over a million pay per view buys whenever she fought. She was also one of the most searched people in the world in 2014 and 2015.

It's easy to talk about abstract ideals like women's progression, but money does the real talking. Ronda Rousey's success in the UFC showed WWE first hand that there was money to be made in women's combat sports, leading to more focus and attention to its own women's division.

When the genuine article became available, it was unsurprising that WWE would bring Ronda Rousey herself into the company, though she's not nearly the draw now as she was back then.