Wendi Richter Wendi Richter ( September 6 , 1961 ) is a retired American professional wrestler . She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance , where she teamed with Joyce Grable , with whom she held the NWA Women ' s World Tag Team Championship twice . In the 1980s , she joined the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . She held the WWF Women ' s Championship twice and feuded with The Fabulous Moolah over the title . She was also involved in a storyline with singer Cyndi Lauper called the " Rock ' n ' Wrestling Connection . " Richter , however , left the WWF after losing the championship in controversial fashion . She then worked in the World Wrestling Council and American Wrestling Association , where she held both companies ' women ' s titles . Professional wrestling career . Training . Wendi Richter was trained at The Fabulous Moolah ' s " Lillian Ellison School of Professional Wrestling " and made her professional debut in 1979 . In early 1982 , Richter tag team ed with Moolah against Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria for three matches for the World Wide Wrestling Federation . Richter was later paired with Joyce Grable , with whom she also trained for six weeks , to form a tag team called The Texas Cowgirls . In late 1982 , they wrestled in a series of matches in Canada ' s Stampede Wrestling against Velvet McIntyre and Judy Martin . She continued her feud with McIntyre in Bill Watts ' Mid - South Wrestling Association , where she was defeated twice . Richter and Grable continued their rivalry with McIntyre and Martin into April 1983 in Verne Gagne ' s American Wrestling Association . In May , the team reformed in Stampede Wrestling in matches against McIntyre and Penny Mitchell . The team also won the NWA Women ' s World Tag Team Championship twice . World Wrestling Federation . Rock ' n ' Wrestling . Richter returned stateside signing with the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) in late 1983 . In April 1984 , Richter teamed with Peggy Lee for a series of matches with old rivals Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria . WWF owner Vince McMahon brought in Cyndi Lauper for a feud with Lou Albano ( who had appeared in one of Lauper ' s videos ) . As a result , in a match , Albano seconded WWF Women ' s Champion Fabulous Moolah , while Lauper was in the corner of Wendi Richter . Richter defeated Moolah at MTV ' s " The Brawl to End it All " for the Women ' s Championship on July 23 , 1984 . With the win , she ended what was billed as the longest championship reign in professional wrestling history ( Moolah ' s 28 - year reign as recognized by the WWF ; in reality she had lost the title several times between 1956 and 1978 , and Richter ' s win had in reality only ended a nearly seven - year reign by Moolah as champion ) . The broadcast of the women ' s match earned MTV its largest ratings in history up to that point . This match was also the beginning of the " Rock ' n ' Wrestling Connection " , an era that combined both music and professional wrestling . Richter faced Moolah ' s protégé , Leilani Kai , who defeated Richter for the title , in early 1985 at " The War to Settle the Score " . She regained the title at the first WrestleMania one month later . While wrestling for the WWF , Richter referred to herself as " 150 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal " . Richter was also animated for a CBS Saturday morning cartoon , " Hulk Hogan ' s Rock ' n ' Wrestling " . The Original Screwjob . In 1985 , after losing and then regaining the title from rival Leilani Kai at the inaugural WrestleMania , Richter was scheduled to defend her women ' s title at Madison Square Garden on November 25 of that same year against a mysterious masked opponent known only as The Spider Lady . During the match , The Spider Lady broke from the pre - scripted events and pinned Richter ' s shoulders to the mat . The referee — who was in on the plan — delivered a swift three count , despite Richter kicking out after a count of one . Richter ignored the bell and continued to attack the Spider , unmasking the new champion to reveal that it was The Fabulous Moolah in disguise . It was reported that the plan to rid Richter of the title was concocted by WWF Chairman Vince McMahon , who brought in Moolah after Richter refused to sign a new contract with the WWF . Richter , however , claims she was still under her original five year contract , but that she regularly had disagreements with McMahon about her compensation . She also claims that when she arrived at the arena that day , she was surprised to find Moolah backstage , as she never showed up to events at which she was not scheduled to wrestle . After the match , an infuriated Richter left the arena in her wrestling gear , took a cab to the airport , and booked herself on a flight out of New York . Afterward , she never spoke to either McMahon or Moolah again . Independent circuit . Upon leaving the WWF , Richter wrestled in Puerto Rico , Japan , and throughout the United States in independent promotions . In Puerto Rico ' s World Wrestling Council , she traded the WWC Women ' s Championship with Monster Ripper , holding the belt twice : once in May 1987 and once in July 1987 . Richter surfaced in the American Wrestling Association ( AWA ) in 1987 to challenge champion Madusa Miceli for the AWA Women ' s Championship , winning the title in December 1988 . On December 13 , 1988 , she participated in a mixed tag team match at AWA SuperClash III with partners The Top Guns ( Ricky Rice and Derrick Dukes ) against Badd Company ( Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka ) and Madusa Miceli . Richter ' s team won the match when she pinned Miceli . On January 29 , 2005 , Richter appeared at WrestleReunion in an eight - woman tag team match ( teaming with Bambi , Malia Hosaka , and Jenny Taylor wrestling against Sherri Martel , Peggy Lee Leather , Krissy Vaine , and Amber O ' Neal . In August of that same year , Richter appeared at the second WrestleReunion event , WrestleReunion 2 , in a six - person tag team match . Life after wrestling and WWE Hall of Fame . In the years after her retirement , Richter was uninvolved with wrestling . In a 2005 shoot interview , she expressed disgust towards the portrayal of women in the WWE product , and was still hurt over her WWF exit . On February 2009 , WWE contacted Richter to participate in a Divas battle royal to determine " Miss WrestleMania " at WrestleMania XXV , but Richter declined the offer . Despite that , Richter was offered induction in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010 , which she accepted . She was inducted by Roddy Piper . In contrast of her shoot interviews , her speech spoke fondly of her wrestling career and how the WWE Divas thanked her for her influence . Richter ' s speech ended joyfully , exclaiming " Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ! " Richter appeared as part of WWE Axxess during the weekend of Wrestlemania 27 , where she signed autographs at the WWE Legends booth . Personal life . Wendi Richter grew up in Dallas , Texas , and before she entered the world of professional wrestling , she worked on her family ' s ranch and took part in rodeo competitions . She attended Bossier High School , where she participated in volleyball , track , and cross - country . She later majored in computer programming at Dallas ' s Draughon ' s Business College . In the 1980s , she moved to Crystal River , Florida . After leaving the business , Richter worked as a real estate agent . She also returned to school for thirteen years , earning a degree in physical therapy and a Master ' s degree in occupational therapy . Aside from therapy , Richter competes in dog shows , including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show . She was once married to Hugo Savinovich , an announcer for the WWF .