Yesterday marked the first day of May, and with Spring weather beginning to take hold, change is in the air. Two notable female pro wrestling personalities certainly seem to be embracing that change as it looks like they are no longer with the most recent employers, Victoria Crawford, fka Alicia Fox, and Leva Bates.
Recently, rumors have swirled on social media that after seventeen years with WWE, Crawford was no longer with the promotion. The former WWE Divas Champion took to Instagram stories yesterday and seemingly confirmed the rumor with a post containing the word “Employable.” She also changed her profile to reflect her real name and noted that her tenure with WWE lasted from 2006 until 2023. The changes were accompanied by another post advertising an upcoming convention she will be appearing at, under her real name.
Crawford’s tenure with WWE began in 2006, training at Ohio Valley Wrestling before being transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling and eventually debuting on the main roster in 2008. In June of 2010, Crawford achieved arguably her greatest in-ring accomplishment when she won the WWE Divas Championship in a Fatal 4-Way match against Gail Kim, Eve Torres, and Maryse. Crawford is the first and only black WWE Divas Champion.
Crawford’s career with WWE was not without controversy, in February 2019 it was reported that she showed up for a live event intoxicated. Arn Anderson, who was the producer responsible for Crawford’s match, was blamed for allowing her to compete and was subsequently released. The former Four Horsemen member had been with WWE since 2001 and now works for AEW.
Leva Bates, unlike Anderson, no longer works for Tony Khan’s growing pro wrestling alternative. The former WWE NXT star broke the news to her fans in a social media post.
“As of today,” she began. “My contract with AEW has expired. The last four years have been quite a ride; I’ve learned so much and grown exponentially. I’ve seen wrestling history take place as someone who was on the team since before the first show. I appreciate & love all the crew, staff and talent; I will cherish all our memories together.
“I’ve given my time, my focus, and my effort to the company, but now I’ve got to focus on myself, my future and my career. I hope you all, my friend, fans and love ones, stay with me through this next chapter of my journey. I hope to make you all proud no matter where I go.”
Bates was signed by AEW in April 2019. Her most known in-ring work was as The Librarian, alongside fellow Librarian, Peter Avalon. The two were the winners of a contest that The Elite was running in the early AEW days looking for the perfect “The Librarian” wrestler. Upon winning, the two were subsequently paired together as a heel act. Bates eventually turns face by slapping Avalon and has since become a fixture on AEW Dark. Behind the scenes, she had also taken on responsibilities for the company and was regularly present at the post-show media scrums.
Stay with Haus of Wrestling for all the latest of Victoria Crawford and Leva Bates