Full Career Retrospective and Greatest Moments for Jacqueline

The history of WWE's Diva division is full of accomplished female performers (such as Trish Stratus and Lita), but few enjoyed the longevity that Jacqueline did. From 1998 until 2004, she was the one consistent in the division and a key factor in the reintroduction of the women's championship to the company.

Somehow, she is overshadowed and underappreciated in the grand scheme of things.

Despite having success in both WCW and WWE (not to mention TNA Wrestling), she is underrated by the many who have forgotten just how tough she was and how long she stuck around.

A woman as likely to punch a Superstar as she was a Diva, Jacqueline was a hard-hitting, take-no-crap worker who helped acclimate every young woman she worked with to the world of sports-entertainment.

Whether it was the aforementioned Trish and Lita or future champions such as Victoria and Molly Holly, she was a major force in their development.

Sit back and relax as we take this look back at the career of Jacqueline, using some of her greatest moments and matches to tell her story.

World Championship Wrestling

Prior to her arrival in WCW in 1996, Jacqueline enjoyed a lengthy stint in the United States Wrestling Association, where she worked under Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. There, she was part of many a memorable moment, but perhaps the most vivid in the minds of fans is the Hair vs. Hair match in which she battled Uptown Karen.

After a long feud, the two battled it out for the right to humiliate the other by shaving her head. Jacqueline won the match and proceeded to clip the lovely brown locks of her opponent in the center of the ring.

It was not until she signed with WCW, though, that Jacqueline enjoyed national exposure.

First, she served as the valet for Kevin Sullivan. She later became the manager of tag team greats Harlem Heat. But the most recognizable moment from her time spent with Ted Turner's promotion was the brief rivalry she had with Disco Inferno. 

On October 27, 1997, she defeated the then-cruiserweight champion at the Halloween Havoc pay-per-view in a non-title match.

Recognizing the opportunity that existed elsewhere, she departed WCW and moved on to the greener pastures that were WWE.

The Sable Feud

In 1998, Jacqueline debuted in WWE as the new girlfriend of the egotistical Marvelous Marc Mero, who was in the midst of a rivalry with the woman who had overshadowed him, Sable. It was only natural that his new significant other would find herself at odds with the blonde bombshell.

At Fully Loaded in July, they battled in a much-hyped bikini contest, which was won by Sable. The decision was overturned the next night when Vince McMahon ruled that body paint does not constitute a bikini. Jacqueline was awarded the trophy.

One month later at SummerSlam, Sable got a measure of revenge when she teamed with Edge to defeat Jacqueline and Mero in a Mixed Tag Team match.

But in September, Jacqueline made history, beating her rival to become the first WWE women's champion in three years. It was a crowning achievement for Jacqueline and the first hint that maybe, just maybe, the company was serious about the relaunch of women's wrestling.

She dropped the title to Sable in November at Survivor Series, and fans recognized the return of the women's title for what it was: a prop to further put the Playboy cover girl over.

Pretty Mean Sisters

Having been betrayed and treated like dirt by Mero, Jacqueline partnered up with Terri Runnels and made the lives of several prominent Superstars a living hell.

As half of Pretty Mean Sisters, or P.M.S. for short (because...Vince Russo), Jacqueline earned television time by punishing competitors like D-Lo Brown and Mark Henry for their transgressions against women, even if the former did nothing wrong.

It was a horrible gimmick to begin with, one that Jacqueline was saddled with to amuse WWE's lead writer, but one whose awfulness intensified tenfold with the introduction of Shawn "Meat" Stasiak.

Described as the love slave of Terri and Jacqueline, he was degraded and punished on a weekly basis.

Thankfully, the gimmick would have a short shelf life.

Return to Championship Form

In January 2000, Jacqueline defeated Harvey Whippleman to regain the women's title.

Don't ask.

She would hold the gold for two months, defeating the likes of Ivory and Lita to retain it.

Unfortunately, the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 2000 saw the accomplished ring vet battle Stephanie McMahon in the night's main event. What should have been a walk in the park for Jacqueline turned into one of the worst moments of her career when interference from Tori led to The Billion Dollar Princess capturing her first, and only, women's title.

Jacqueline would remain a valuable asset in the women's division, battling Lita and Trish Stratus throughout their title reigns and helping them develop into fine workers.

The hardcore matches with Lita, in particular, were brutal and hard-hitting affairs that ensured that if the redheaded champion was to retain her title, she would have to earn it.

Cruiserweight Champion

For whatever reason, WWE Creative lost track of Jacqueline sometime in 2002. No longer an active competitor, she became a referee for the Divas division. Sure, it kept her busy and in the spotlight, but it also prevented her from doing what she did best: wrestle.

In 2003, she enjoyed a bit of a renaissance, even competing in a Fatal 4-Way match for the Women's Championship at Judgment Day. But it was not until 2004 when she stepped back into the spotlight in the strangest way imaginable.

Chavo Guerrero had reigned as WWE cruiserweight champion since February's No Way Out pay-per-view. A despicable heel whose reliance on his father's interference had helped elevate him to the top of the SmackDown brand, he was as hated as any other Superstar on the blue brand roster.

When Jacqueline answered an open challenge and actually won the title, most fans pointed to the program with Disco Inferno nearly seven years earlier. (Jacqueline did not actually win the title at that time, though.)

Many criticized the angle, claimed it devalued the championship. At the same time, one could not help but get the feeling that it was some sort of "thank you" from WWE Creative for Jacqueline's years of service.

After all, by the time she dropped the title back to Guerrero at the Judgment Day 2004 pay-per-view, she was on her way out of the company, released that June.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Jacqueline's departure from WWE did not end her wrestling career.

Whether she was standing by the side of Jeff Jarrett or James Storm as their manager in TNA Wrestling, or battling Gail Kim in a Street Fight that resulted in her losing her two front teeth, Jacqueline continued to be a part of the industry she devoted her life to.

Even in 2013, she continued to make appearances for the company, battling Taryn Terrel in a Knockouts pay-per-view event and ODB at Hardcore Justice.

It was clear that her days as a full-time worker were over, though.

Legacy

No one is ever going to recognize Jacqueline as one of the elite female performers in wrestling history. WWE's marketing machine has always focused on Trish Stratus and Lita, and rightfully so. But to downplay Jacqueline's contributions to the company and the growth of women's wrestling in the late 1990s and early 2000s would be unfair.

One of the most respected performers in the history of the WWE Divas roster, Jacqueline was a performer most guys would not want to work with (let alone the girls). She was tough, strong and a fine performer.

There is something to be said for her longevity in the industry and the fact that she had the success that she did across the brands and years that she did. That is a trait most performers do not have, and one that limits just how long they can remain relevant.

For that, she deserves recognition and respect.