Dumas will join a small and elite list of female grapplers such as the Fabulous Moolah, Mae Young, Sherri Martel and Wendi Richter into the heralded hall. Stratus, also a member (Class of 2013), has been chosen to induct her longtime rival and friend.
Dumas became an inspiration and idol for girls growing up watching her perform in the late 1990s into the new millennium. Among them was diva’s champion AJ Lee, who has cited Lita as a big reason she pursued a career in WWE. There is a video on YouTube of a teenage Lee getting emotional meeting Dumas for the first time. Today this lifelong fan is standing atop the WWE diva mountain, just like her idol did.
A lot has happened since Lita retired full-time from the ring.
Many of the women on the roster are being introduced to a new audience through the popular reality TV show “Total Divas” on E! Dumas, who came to WWE from experiences in Mexico, the independent scene and ECW, believes it’s almost bringing a different kind of attention.
Dumas’ career was filled with memorable moments from teaming with Matt and Jeff Hardy to working with Stratus. The two divas not only participated in a main event tag match involving Triple H and The Rock, but would headline their own Raw one-on-one almost a decade ago. She battled back from serious neck injuries and a torn ACL. Before retiring, Dumas was also an important part of Edge’s successful run with the WWE championship. Given all she has accomplished and sporadic appearances she has made for the company over the years, the verdict is out if we will see her compete again.
Dumas was Stratus’ last opponent as an active performer. Not long after, Mickie James was the final adversary for Lita at the 2006 Survivor Series. With that came the end of an era.
Since her time away from WWE, Dumas has been meeting fans at conventions, working on a few projects and enjoying her life. She recently appeared on CMT’s “Tattoo Titans” as a guest judge.
“That was actually the first thing I had done in a long time in the public eye,” Dumas said. “I was really reluctant. I had never watched the tattoo competition show or those reality shows. I did work in tattoo shops before I wrestled, so it was kind of fun to come back there. I ended up having a really good time with that crew. I’d like to do some more stuff with them. I talked to them about doing some more stuff. So you might be able to catch me on another ‘Tattoo Titans’ episode.
Dumas is excited for the upcoming WrestleMania Weekend in New Orleans. She anticipates the big showdown between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar.
“It’s amazing that ‘Taker can still go out there and give not only a compelling show because you are still excited to see him, but there is still that hope or believability that somebody is going to break that streak,” Dumas said.
Dumas has gone from living in South Florida during her early years (until middle school) to living her dreams. She recalls happy times in Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton.
“I remember we’d walk down and sit there and talk about the ‘never did,’” Dumas said.
• Lita (Amy Dumas) joins the Ultimate Warrior, Mr. T, Carlos Colon, Paul Bearer, Razor Ramon and Jake The Snake Roberts in the 2014 Class of the WWE Hall of Fame from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. For the first time ever, the induction ceremony will air live in its entirety on the WWE Network at 9 p.m. EST Saturday, April 5.
• WrestleMania 30 will air 7 p.m. EST Sunday, April 6 from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on pay-per-view and the WWE Network. Pre-show begins at 6 p.m. EST.
Visit www.WrestleMania.com for full card and details on everything surrounding the biggest spectacle in sports entertainment.
• Follow Lita on Twitter @AmyDumas.
• Follow me on Twitter @smFISHMAN for live tweets from New Orleans on WrestleMania Weekend.