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WWE has increasingly become more popular over the years, despite some of the bigger names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and Dave Bautista all stepping in the film industry. If you think that would cause a decline in numbers, you’re wrong — and it’s the ladies that are holding interest in the ring, too! While women thrive in the wrestling space, here are five Black women wrestlers (in the WWE), active and from the past, that have paved the way and continue to be an integral part of the industry today.
Naomi
Initially part of the Funkadactyls, Trinity Fatu, known as Naomi, is a force to be reckoned with when she went solo and became one of the most popular female wrestlers ever. The two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion displayed great athleticism, aerobics, and attitude, and was good enough to go up against the best of the best. She had quite the interesting storyline when she stepped in as a replacement for Jade Cargill in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Bianca Belair.
In a shocking turn of events, Noami was assaulted by Cargill, but the plot thickened when she later turned heel for the first time in nine years when she admitted she was the one who harmed Cargill in the first place. She took part in the Total Divas series and was an active star from 2013-2019. Today, she still wrestles and is currently the Women’s World Champion on the Raw brand as she recently defended her title in this years SummerSlam. Her next match will be in Paris at Clash against Iyo Sky where she is currently in her hell (villain) era.
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Varnado, also known as Sasha Banks and The Boss, is currently the it girl when it comes to Black female wrestlers, and she made history with Bianca Belair when they became the only two Black women to go toe to toe at Wrestlemania. She helped shape the way females were viewed in the organization, as she fought for them to be seen more as athletes rather than eye candy. She came up under the NXT brand and her name has been mentioned as one of the best female competitors in the entire sport. She and Naomi both stepped away from the WWE due to creative differences in 2022, but she went on to sign with AEW and continues to wrestle. She has solidified herself as one of the greats and is certain to land herself in the Hall of Fame one of these years.
Bianca Belair
Real name Bianca Blaire but Bianca Belair on stage, she made history alongside Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 when they both headlined. From winning the 2021 Royal Rumble match to coming up victorious in the SmackDown Women’s Championship, Belair makes her job look so easy and she does it with grace and a beautifully beat face. She is proud to mention that she has yet to be beaten at WrestleMania, which is no easy feat. She is also the first woman to win multiple Elimination Chamber matches, with her next match set to be against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley on August 31st in Paris, France. She is still dominating the women’s section of the wrestling industry with other females holding their own. This is much needed, as the amount of Black women in the WWE continues to grow, and not in any small roles; they are kicking some serious butt and delivering some of the must see matches over the guys.
Jazz
Starting off at ECW in the 90s, Jazz achieved legendary status in such a short period of time when she made history at WrestleMania 18 as the first Black woman to retain the WWE Women’s Championship when she defeated Trish Stratus and Liti. She dealt with a lot of injuries, so her career never reached its full potential as she left WWE in 2007 after only six years. She is considered a trailblazer as she is seen as having peak female physique enough to go up the toughest men and women in the organization. In 2004, her husband Rodney Mack joined the WWE, so she became his manager during his time there. Today, Jazz still dabbles in her wrestling passion as she is a coach at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, as well as offers training and coaching outside of the WWE.
Jacqueline Moore
Texas Native Jacqueline Moore is considered an OG who paved the way for the ladies today as she was the first Black woman to win a WWE Women’s Championship back in September of 1998 (formerly WWF). She was known for her fierceness and ability to challenge anyone, no matter if they were male or female, as she fought alongside Marc Mero and delivered a powerful punch to Disco Inferferno right to the jaw. Though she had her fair share of matches from her debut in 1997 until she stepped away in 2004, she never lost her passion for wrestling. She took part in the series Tough Enough as a trainer where she’d help teach a younger generation the ins and outs of being a superstar Diva. She is constantly praised for her braveness to be so confident and good at her job in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming to not just women but women of color. Her hard work and dedication paid off as she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
The post 5 Trailblazing Black Women in WWE History appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
WWE has increasingly become more popular over the years, despite some of the bigger names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and Dave Bautista all stepping in the film industry. If you think that would cause a decline in numbers, you’re wrong — and it’s the ladies that are holding interest in the ring, too! While women thrive in the wrestling space, here are five Black women wrestlers (in the WWE), active and from the past, that have paved the way and continue to be an integral part of the industry today.
Naomi
Initially part of the Funkadactyls, Trinity Fatu, known as Naomi, is a force to be reckoned with when she went solo and became one of the most popular female wrestlers ever. The two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion displayed great athleticism, aerobics, and attitude, and was good enough to go up against the best of the best. She had quite the interesting storyline when she stepped in as a replacement for Jade Cargill in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Bianca Belair.
In a shocking turn of events, Noami was assaulted by Cargill, but the plot thickened when she later turned heel for the first time in nine years when she admitted she was the one who harmed Cargill in the first place. She took part in the Total Divas series and was an active star from 2013-2019. Today, she still wrestles and is currently the Women’s World Champion on the Raw brand as she recently defended her title in this years SummerSlam. Her next match will be in Paris at Clash against Iyo Sky where she is currently in her hell (villain) era.
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Varnado, also known as Sasha Banks and The Boss, is currently the it girl when it comes to Black female wrestlers, and she made history with Bianca Belair when they became the only two Black women to go toe to toe at Wrestlemania. She helped shape the way females were viewed in the organization, as she fought for them to be seen more as athletes rather than eye candy. She came up under the NXT brand and her name has been mentioned as one of the best female competitors in the entire sport. She and Naomi both stepped away from the WWE due to creative differences in 2022, but she went on to sign with AEW and continues to wrestle. She has solidified herself as one of the greats and is certain to land herself in the Hall of Fame one of these years.
Bianca Belair
Real name Bianca Blaire but Bianca Belair on stage, she made history alongside Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 when they both headlined. From winning the 2021 Royal Rumble match to coming up victorious in the SmackDown Women’s Championship, Belair makes her job look so easy and she does it with grace and a beautifully beat face. She is proud to mention that she has yet to be beaten at WrestleMania, which is no easy feat. She is also the first woman to win multiple Elimination Chamber matches, with her next match set to be against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley on August 31st in Paris, France. She is still dominating the women’s section of the wrestling industry with other females holding their own. This is much needed, as the amount of Black women in the WWE continues to grow, and not in any small roles; they are kicking some serious butt and delivering some of the must see matches over the guys.
Jazz
Starting off at ECW in the 90s, Jazz achieved legendary status in such a short period of time when she made history at WrestleMania 18 as the first Black woman to retain the WWE Women’s Championship when she defeated Trish Stratus and Liti. She dealt with a lot of injuries, so her career never reached its full potential as she left WWE in 2007 after only six years. She is considered a trailblazer as she is seen as having peak female physique enough to go up the toughest men and women in the organization. In 2004, her husband Rodney Mack joined the WWE, so she became his manager during his time there. Today, Jazz still dabbles in her wrestling passion as she is a coach at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, as well as offers training and coaching outside of the WWE.
Jacqueline Moore
Texas Native Jacqueline Moore is considered an OG who paved the way for the ladies today as she was the first Black woman to win a WWE Women’s Championship back in September of 1998 (formerly WWF). She was known for her fierceness and ability to challenge anyone, no matter if they were male or female, as she fought alongside Marc Mero and delivered a powerful punch to Disco Inferferno right to the jaw. Though she had her fair share of matches from her debut in 1997 until she stepped away in 2004, she never lost her passion for wrestling. She took part in the series Tough Enough as a trainer where she’d help teach a younger generation the ins and outs of being a superstar Diva. She is constantly praised for her braveness to be so confident and good at her job in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming to not just women but women of color. Her hard work and dedication paid off as she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
The post 5 Trailblazing Black Women in WWE History appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
The most memorable children’s stories are the ones that respect the intelligence of their audience. Just because it’s geared toward children doesn’t mean they can’t understand deeper concepts. I always appreciate shows like Gargoyles, DuckTales Reboot, and Craig of the Creek because the writers broke down adult concept/themes then incorporated them into a kid’s show. That’s the mark of a great writer to me. Tony Weaver, Jr. utilizes this same method in his book Weirdo.
Before we can dive into Weirdo, we have to talk about the author, Tony Weaver, Jr. Tony is a proud blerd and fellow internet archeologist. He digs online to unearth projects from Black, brown, and POC creators to highlight on his platform. All while not shying away from debunking racists comments, tropes, and beliefs from people that try to deny space to creators, shows, stories, and projects because they don’t center whiteness. Tony Weaver, Jr. does just that trill talk online. You can find him at different cons on various panels talking about media or in schools as a guest speaker talking with children about their interest from anime to television and books.
Weirdo is for Everyone Outside The Cool Kid’s Table
Weirdo is not only a book geared for kids but a memoir as well. Drawn by Jes & Cin Wibowo, Weirdo centers a young Tony Weaver, Jr. having to deal with changing schools, the pressures of being the new kid, and the expectations that come with being in a gifted program. When we look at the tribulations pre-teens and tweens go through, it can be hard not to make them feel like a common place or the usual trope we find a protagonist going through. That isn’t the case for Weirdo. What makes this book stand out is the realism Weaver writes brings into the story. There’s an element of our protagonist being damned if he does or doesn’t. That’s a level of reality you don’t see happening often in children’s books.
A good writer is going to make you feel something when reading their work. As I read through Weirdo, my immediate issue was frustration for the situation we see Tony find himself in when it comes to being bullied. The author does a great job depicting the evolution of bullying. How it’s no longer just name calling and physical but something that can happen online as well. Trying to navigate through the different cliques in a school feels like understanding the gangs in a prison yard. One wrong move done on your part or someone else doing to you, and you’ve got this stigma you can’t shake off. How do you fight something that’s digital and not physical? Then, when things get physical, why are you scolded for defending yourself when you aren’t the person that escalated things?
What’s good about Weirdo is that we don’t see Tony as a protagonist that has the answers for what he’s going through. We also see how parents and teachers don’t always get it right until it’s too late. The book doesn’t shy away what too late is and the issues of suicide/self harm. The handling of this topic was beautifully done; it isn’t a corner stone of the book but more-so a moment. The reader doesn’t need to know the exact details about what happened, just the act that it happened is enough. The handling of such a serious tone is expressed incredibly through the artwork to create a strong visual for the narrative.
The artwork provided by Jes & Cin Wibowo plays such a strong factor into the fluidity of the storytelling. Their coloring is vibrant, the characters come to life, and each person we meet feels just like their own character outside of the main protagonist. I’m a visual guy, so this memoir being a graphic novel was easy for me to get into. The use of colors by Jes & Cin Wibowo is such a brilliant way to indicate the feelings of characters and moments and making this memoir a graphic novel is such a brilliant choice. There are so many pop culture and nerd references that we get to see visually play out in front of us. This choice allows us to switch between reader and audience member. That is something that’s not easy to pull off seamlessly but this creative team trifecta gets it right.
My favorite thing about Weirdo is the theme of light at the end. The way that light comes through in finding community is a beautiful thing to me. It always peaks my interest in seeing how characters thrive when they are around other eccentric people. They don’t even have to be like minded, just unapologetically themselves.
I think it is important to stress that although this is a book geared for kids, Weirdo is a relatable story for all ages.
Weirdo is published through First Second and can be found where most books and comics are sold.
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The post ‘Weirdo’: Tony Weaver, Jr. Creates a Table for the Outcasts appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
It’s finally time to set sail once more, fellow Straw Hats! After years of waiting, Netflix has released the first trailer live-action One Piece season two––now revealed to be called One Piece: Into the Grand Line. And boy, there’s a lot to unpack in this action-filled first look! Join us in the high seas as we delve into all of the Easter eggs and references from the One Piece anime and manga that we spotted in the action-packed trailer for One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line.
All of the Anime and Manga Easter Eggs and References We Saw in the One Piece Season 2, Into the Grand Line Trailer
Reverse Mountain & Laboon: One Piece Season 2’s Trailer Begins and Ends with a Whale of a Manga Easter Egg
The live-action One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line, trailer bookends with the ominous cries of the giant blue whale from the One Piece anime and manga, Laboon. First, in the opening shot of the live-action One Piece trailer, we see the Going Merry approaching Reverse Mountain, which is the entrance to the Grand Line. That Easter egg makes sense because One Piece season two is called Into the Grand Line, after all. Then, toward the end of the trailer, we get a thrilling shot where we see the Straw Hat crew descend the mountain… straight towards the open mouth of the colossal Laboon.
In the One Piece manga, the Straw Hat Pirates are swallowed whole by the whale to begin their adventure on the Grand Line, but it will be interesting to see whether the live-action One Piece series will stay true to that plot point or find a more grounded option to adapt the arc. We’re glad to see this whale of a reference to the One Piece manga in the season two trailer, one way or the other.
Loguetown & Smoker: Live-Action One Piece Season 2 Teases More Time Spent in a Critical Manga Location
The live-action One Piece season two trailer also shows us many shots from the Straw Hats’ final stop in the East Blue before heading out for the Grand Line, Loguetown. This location is a pivotal one for Luffy and his crew’s journey, as they encounter many important figures on their stop there. Most notably, the Straw Hats meet the Marine Captain Smoker. The end of live-action One Piece’s first season teased this powerful Devil Fruit user. And Smoker makes his glorious duel-cigar-smoking debut in the One Piece: Into the Grand Line season two trailer, played by Callum Kerr.
From the other shots we see in the One Piece trailer, it would appear that the crew will be spending a bit more time in Loguetown than they do in the manga, with several shots taking place at night, including one of Luffy looking up at the scaffold of Gol D. Roger’s execution. This shot offers a deep-cut One Piece manga Easter egg embedded into the One Piece season two, Into the Grand Line, trailer because it reminds us of Loguetwon’s nickname in the manga, the “Town of Beginnings and Endings.” Loguetown is the place of Rogers birth and death, and we feel the show will meditate on this during the season.
Whiskey Peak: This One Piece Season 2 Trailer Manga Easter Egg Hints at Some Drunken Delights
Another gorgeous manga set piece we see showcased in this live-action One Piece season two trailer is the iconic Cactus Island, home to the town of Whiskey Peak. Without giving too much away for those who aren’t familiar with the One Piece source material, Whiskey Peak is the Straw Hats’ first official stop on the Grand Line, and it is a memorable one full of surprises, to say the least… It may or may not feature some drunken revelry. We’ll see how far the Netflix live-action One Piece series takes this trailer reference. It is fun to see Whiskey Peak pop up in the One Piece season two trailer, though, and we’re sure it will be chock-full of manga Easter eggs when it comes to life.
Miss Wednesday Makes Her First Appearance
One such Whiskey Peak surprise is Vivi, a.k.a. Miss Wednesday, who also makes her first appearance in the One Piece season two trailer. Played by Charithra Chandran, in the manga, the blue-haired Baroque Works agent clashes with Luffy and the crew during this early period on the Grand Line. However, there’s more to this character than may initially appear, as she soon becomes an integral part of their story across the One Piece Alabasta saga. We feel excited to see a reference to Vivi/Miss Wednesday’s One Piece manga journey in the Into the Grand Line trailer.
Miss All Sunday First-Look Teases Interesting Change From the One Piece Manga
Speaking of Baroque Works agents, the live-action One Piece season two trailer also offered fans their first look at another significant manga character debuting this season, Nico Robin, a.k.a. Miss All Sunday, played by Lera Abova. In a quick shot, we see a glimpse at the cowboy hat-clad baddie and her Devil Fruit powers as she bursts open a door with a storm of flower petals. This One Piece season two trailer Easter egg will interest fans, as it nods to Miss All Sunday’s manga powers but changes their presentation from the manga. It’ll be interesting to note whether this signifies an overall change to how Miss All Sunday’s powers will be presented in the live-action series, or if this is merely a tease at what we can expect from her in the future.
Little Garden, Giants, & Wax
The final locations teased in this trailer were the exotic jungles of Little Garden, and their BIG surprises. In easily the standout moments of the trailer, we got our first look at one of the giants the crew will meet on Little Garden, Brogy, played by Brendan Murray. Sadly, no Dory in this trailer, but we do know he will be appearing this season as well, played by Werner Coetser.
Likewise, while none of the Baroque Works agents the crew encounters on Little Garden appear in this live-action One Piece season two trailer, we do get a little reference to David Dastmalchian’s Mr. 3. This can be seen in a quick shot of Sanji breaking into his hideout on the island, which you can see is made entirely of wax.
One Piece: Into the Grand Line‘s Teaser Trailer Promises Manga Easter Eggs Galore in Live-Action Season 2
The live-action One Piece season two trailer is sure to reignite fans’ excitement for the new season as it peppers in an incredible amount of manga Easter eggs and references for long-time fans. The trailer does an incredible job of showcasing the wide variety of extraordinary adventures awaiting the crew on the Grand Line. And that’s not even including Chopper’s portion of the season in Drum Island, which was notably absent from the trailer.
Thankfully, One Piece fans can expect more exciting details and insights on season two (and three) as the show will officially return in 2026.
The post Every Manga Easter Egg We Saw in the ONE PIECE Season 2 Teaser Trailer appeared first on Nerdist.
A Target worker says they were shocked when they were suddenly fired for “theft” on the job due to a misunderstanding at the coffee machine.
In a video posted on Aug. 7 with over 2.1 million views, TikToker Briar (@clovrb0ne) stands outside Target, wearing a backpack.