That match, aired live on MTV, jumpstarted a career in the WWF for the 23-year-old Richter that spelled instant fame. As the women's champion, Richter was featured in several high-profile matches in such venues as Madison Square Garden. At her side, in the role of manager, was the woman partially responsible for it all, popular rock music star Cyndi Lauper.

Unfortunately, that fame would be short-lived.

A little more than one year after her historic victory over Moolah, Richter was out of the spotlight, and out of the WWF - the victim of a well-orchestrated plot that some say was the forerunner of the now infamous ''Bret Hart screw job.''

''I was so angry,'' Richter said during a recent telephone interview as she recalled the incident and the role her former boss, Vince McMahon, played in it. ''He wronged me!''

It was Nov. 25, 1985.

After losing and then regaining the title from rival Lelani Kai, a South Carolina wrestler that was billed as hailing from Hawaii, Richter was scheduled to defend her women's title at Madison Square Garden against a mysterious masked opponent known only as The Spider Lady. Although most matches are predetermined, Richter said she was never told who was under the mask or how the match would end.

''She was supposed to be the Spider Lady, but she didn't look much like a spider,'' Richter recalled. ''This lady wore long sleeves, and long tights. You could see nothing but her hands and her eyes.''

Moments into the match, Richter was stunned when her opponent attempted to pin Richter's shoulders to the mat and the referee delivered a swift three count. She was even more surprised to learn that the woman underneath the mask, the woman that had just taken away her title, was Moolah.

''I don't even recall what maneuver she applied,'' Richter said. ''I just know it was over quick. As soon as my shoulders touched the mat I lifted one of them up, but the referee did a fast count and the match was over. I was robbed of that title. I never lost it. My shoulders were never pinned.''

Richter said she was so upset over the match that she left the arena still wearing her wrestling tights, hailed a taxi and went straight to the airport. She said she believes the loss was directly related to her request that, as women's champion, McMahon pay her more money.

''He didn't want to pay me,'' she said. ''I was being paid what the people in opening matches were being paid.''

Richter, who never returned to the WWF but went on to wrestle for independent groups and in Japan, said she wrestled part time while attending school. She eventually earned a master's degree in occupational therapy. In addition to working in that field today, Richter has recently opened a kennel, where she raises Yorkshire Terriers for show.

Richter, who said she has not spoken to McMahon since leaving the company, says she has long since put the incident behind her. And though she has been away from wrestling for awhile, the incident will certainly not be a factor later this month at WrestleReunion, where she will reunite with several friends from her days in the WWF.

''I was humiliated, and embarrassed in front of millions of people,'' Richter said. ''I loved it (wrestling) and that's why it hurt me so that it ended with the WWF.''

But that part of her life is over, Richter said, and she holds no grudges. She's looking forward to WrestleReunion, and the chance to reunite with old friends.

''I'm not doing it for the money,'' Richter said of WrestleReunion, which is set to take place Jan. 28-30 in Tampa. ''I make more money now than I ever did in wrestling. I'm going because of the fans, and because a lot of my friends are going to be there. There will be people there that I haven't seen in 20 years. It should be fun.''

Richter is also scheduled to participate in an eight-woman tag match on Jan. 29, teaming with Malia Hosaka, Bambi and Jenny Taylor against Sherri Martel, Krissy Vaine and Amber of Team Blondage, and Peggy Lee Leather.