GAEA and WWE are two very different products. You cannot make a direct comparison between the two. And just because Beth made it big in the PG era doesn't mean she couldn't have made it in a more competitive environment (just like John Cena). Could this woman be so successful in WWE? Probably yes, Probably not.
What agenda do you have against Cameron? She doesn't have anything to do with the topic. She is probably not even in the tournament. And btw, she never wrestled a match against Beth Phoenix, and neither did Naomi.
A plastic surgeon would have laughed at the names you mentioned, and maybe did experiments on them to make them suitable for WWE. (Good looks you cannot teach).
How about... 3 time WWE Women's champion, 1 time WWE Divas champion, 2 time Slammy award winner for Diva of the year- all in the biggest wrestling company of the world, 2 time OVW women's champion, and 2 time #2 in PWI Top 50 female singles wrestlers. She also became champion in freestyle wrestling twice in 75 kg category. What accomplishments do Chigusa Nagayo have outside of fake wrestling that would complement the praises that you have showered upon her wrestling abilities while simultaneously questioning that of Phoenix?
I mention Cameron because she is a glaring example of why the Divas are a suspect group. She is NOT a wrestler. She is using WWE in the hopes of a record deal. That much is public knowledge.
Yeah, Phoenix won all those titles against a suspect group. She has NEVER done anything of note outside of the VKM bubble. Now, compare that to a 32 year history. You ask for Chigusa's accomplishments? Here you go:
4 times WWWA tag champ (The belt originally founded by THAT Mildred Burke) She did this with Lioness Asuka as the legendary Crush Gals.
1 Time WWWA World Champ
2 times Ajj Japan Women's Junior Champion
2 Times IWA Women's Champ, Defeated Monster Ripper in Calgary for the belt in 1988. Chigayo would be recognized as Stampede's first IWA ChampionShe would also swap the belt with some chick called Madusa. The title was originally started by Stampede Wrestling, you know, the company ran by some guy named Stu Hart
1987 Japan Grand Prix Champion (Defeting Dump Matsumoto)
1986 Japan Grand Prix Runner up
1985 Japan Grand Prix Third Place
1985 Tag League The Best Runner up (Losing to Bull Nakano and Dump Matsumoto)
1986 Tag League The Best Champion with Yumiko Hotta as her pertner
1987 Tag League The Best Champion with her old partner, Lioness Asuka
All Japan Women's Professional Wrestling would induct her into their Hall of Fame in 1998
Oh, BTW, All Japan Women's had a mandatory retirement rule at the time. The age was 26. Nagayo retired in 1989. Nagayo would start GAEA in 1995. Now, what she won in GAEA: All Asia Athlete's Womens Chmpion twice, and All Asia Athlete's Women's Tag Champ with Lioness Asuka.
And, in GAEA. for 10 years, Nagayo spent developing the future of Joshi puroresu. She would also start a working agreement with WCW to revive the Women's Strap. Nagayo would lose to Madusa in its tournament. Madusa would lose to Akira Hokuto at Starrcade. Now, in retirement, Nagayo is a producer and promoter, putting on shows throughout Japan. And, she is still revered amongst Joshi Puroresu and Women's wrestling fans.
So, what do others think of Nagayo? Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame inductee in 1997, and she was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club at their California Convention the year before. Pretty impressive resume, don't you think?
Oh, before I forget, The Crush Gals (Nagayo and Asuka) did cross into Pop Culture in Japan with a few Top 10 singles. And, that was NOT by design. They were trained athletes first. All Japan Women's officials discovered their voices later. Oh, and The Crush Gals were wrestling in a company called the World Wrestling Federation in 1987, when Women's wrestling was taken SOMeWHAT seriously by VKM. They fought the likes of Donna Christiantello, Judy Martin and Leilani Kai.
Now, let's be real: You are 20 and probably started wrestling during the Invasion angle. I get that. You are also looking at the person that you most want to boink tonight. I get that as well. That is how VKM programs the Divas: not for the most skilled, but who has the best looks. You have probably never seen wrestling tapes like Slant-Eyed Slaughter and Riot from the Rising Sun. Those were wars from All Japan Women's Professional Wrestling. One of those I posted on this very thread. The difference between me and you is that I have been watching wrestling since around 1974. I remember when the IWA (Eddie Einhorn's ill-fated group) tried to destroy Vince Sr. I can tell you stories of matches that I saw as a kid. Sadly, for you, that is all you will have unless you go on YouTube.
Those things said, what will be Beth Phoenix's legacy? What will those who follow wrestling for wrestling and not for Tits and Ass say of her resume? The book of Nagayo the performer is all but done, but as a promoter and trainer, her legacy is only growing. Unless she comes back, the book of Beth Phoenix will be that of a woman who dominated a suspect Divas division, and once she left, did nothing else to add to the legacy. You say she was on the "biggest company in the world". Question: Do you HONESTLY believe that the Divas, because they are the biggest, means the are the best? I do not know of anyone on this forum, or on any other forum, that can say that with a straight face. The problem with your argument is that Phoenix operated inside a well controlled bubble. All of her championships were won in that bubble that involved very few women. Many fans do not rate the Divas division as a real women's group. In fact, I personally hope that when Paige, AJ and Emma see their contracts expire, book themselves over to Japan and let the fitness models, future rappers, and "total divas" have the Division. Oh, and the Slammy's are a VKM, made-for-TV line of Kayfabe BS that people over the age of 14 see right through.
I hope I explained myself. It is probably too late for you, because you had your mind made up already. But, I hope I stated my case.
PS: I forgot about Phoenix Amateur career. However, I still believe in a pro setting, and looking at the ENTIRE body of work, Nagayo is still head and shoulders above Phoenix