The WWE Women's Championship[1] is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. Unveiled on the August 23, 2016, episode of SmackDown, it was created to be the counterpart title to the then-WWE Women's Championship, which became exclusive to Raw as a result of the 2016 WWE draft and renamed to the Raw Women's Championship.[2]
The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition. The inaugural champion was Becky Lynch, who won the title at Backlash on September 11, 2016. Charlotte Flair is the current champion in her record seventh reign. She won the title by defeating Ronda Rousey on the December 30, 2022, episode of SmackDown in Tampa, Florida.
As of May 6, 2024, overall, there have been 25 reigns between 12 champions and one vacancy. Charlotte Flair has the most reigns at seven. Bayley's second reign is the longest singular reign at 380 days, while Flair's fourth reign is the shortest at less than 1 day. Bayley also holds the record for longest combined reign at 520 days. Asuka is the oldest champion at 37, while Alexa Bliss is the youngest, having won it at 25.
Title history edit
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | |||||
| WWE: SmackDown | ||||||||||
| 1 | Becky Lynch | September 11, 2016 | Backlash | Richmond, VA | 1 | 84 | 84 | As a result of the 2016 WWE draft, the WWE Women's Championship became exclusive to Raw. In response, SmackDown established the SmackDown Women's Championship and Raw's title was subsequently renamed. Lynch defeated Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya, and Nikki Bella in a six-pack elimination challenge to become the inaugural champion. | [3] | |
| 2 | Alexa Bliss | December 4, 2016 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Dallas, TX | 1 | 70 | 69 | This was a tables match. | [4] | |
| 3 | Naomi | February 12, 2017 | Elimination Chamber | Phoenix, AZ | 1 | 9 | 8 | [5] | ||
| — | Vacated | February 21, 2017 | SmackDown | Ontario, CA | — | — | — | The championship was vacated when Naomi suffered a knee injury and was unable to defend the title within 30 days. | [6] | |
| 4 | Alexa Bliss | February 21, 2017 | SmackDown | Ontario, CA | 2 | 40 | 40 | Defeated Becky Lynch to win the vacant title. | [6] | |
| 5 | Naomi | April 2, 2017 | WrestleMania 33 | Orlando, FL | 2 | 140 | 139 | This was a six-pack challenge, also involving Becky Lynch, Carmella, Mickie James, and Natalya. | [7] | |
| 6 | Natalya | August 20, 2017 | SummerSlam | Brooklyn, NY | 1 | 86 | 86 | [8] | ||
| 7 | Charlotte Flair | November 14, 2017 | SmackDown | Charlotte, NC | 1 | 147 | 146 | [9] | ||
| 8 | Carmella | April 10, 2018 | SmackDown | New Orleans, LA | 1 | 131 | 130 | This was Carmella's Money in the Bank cash-in match. This was the first time a women's title changed hands after a Money in the Bank contract cash-in. |
[10] | |
| 9 | Charlotte Flair | August 19, 2018 | SummerSlam | Brooklyn, NY | 2 | 28 | 27 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Becky Lynch, who Flair pinned. | [11] | |
| 10 | Becky Lynch | September 16, 2018 | Hell in a Cell | San Antonio, TX | 2 | 91 | 91 | [12] | ||
| 11 | Asuka | December 16, 2018 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | San Jose, CA | 1 | 100 | 99 | This was a triple threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, also involving Charlotte Flair. | [13] | |
| 12 | Charlotte Flair | March 26, 2019 | SmackDown | Uncasville, CT | 3 | 13 | 12 | [14] | ||
| 13 | Becky Lynch | April 8, 2019 | WrestleMania 35 | East Rutherford, NJ | 3 | 41 | 41 | This was a winner takes all triple threat match for both the Raw Women's Championship and SmackDown Women's Championship, also involving Ronda Rousey, who defended the Raw Women's Championship. Lynch pinned Rousey to win both titles. | [15] | |
| 14 | Charlotte Flair | May 19, 2019 | Money in the Bank | Hartford, CT | 4 | <1 | <1 | [16] | ||
| 15 | Bayley | May 19, 2019 | Money in the Bank | Hartford, CT | 1 | 140 | 140 | This was Bayley's Money in the Bank cash-in match. | [16] | |
| 16 | Charlotte Flair | October 6, 2019 | Hell in a Cell | Sacramento, CA | 5 | 5 | 4 | [17] | ||
| 17 | Bayley | October 11, 2019 | SmackDown | Paradise, NV | 2 | 380 | 379 | [18] | ||
| 18 | Sasha Banks | October 25, 2020 | Hell in a Cell | Orlando, FL | 1 | 167 | 167 | This was a Hell in a Cell match. | [19] | |
| 19 | Bianca Belair | April 10, 2021 | WrestleMania 37 Night 1 |
Tampa, FL | 1 | 15 | 15 | [20] | ||
| 20 | Ronda Rousey | April 25, 2021 | Raw | Des Moines, Iowa | 1 | 4 | 4 | This was a winner takes all triple threat match for both the Raw Women's Championship and SmackDown Women's Championship, also involving Rhea Ripley, defending the Raw Women’s Championship. Ronda forced both competitors to submit to unify the Women’s championships into the WWE Women’s Championship. | [21] | |
| WWE: Raw and SmackDown | ||||||||||
| — | Vacated | April 29, 2021 | SmackDown | Minneapolis, Minnesota | — | — | — | The championship was vacated when Ronda Rousey kayfabe quit the WWE. | [6] | |
| 21 | Alexa Bliss | May 23, 2021 | Money in the Bank | Fort Worth, TX | 3 | 77 | 77 | defeated Liv Morgan in a “Pile of Bliss match”. | [4] | |
| 22 | Liv Morgan | August 8, 2021 | SummerSlam | Paradise, NV | 1 | 188 | 188 | This was a ladder match. | [4] | |
Combined reigns edit
Two-time champion Bayley, who holds the records for longest singular reign at 380 days and longest combined reign at 520 days
Inaugural and four-time champion Becky Lynch
As of May 6, 2024.
| † | Indicates the current champion |
|---|
| Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
Combined days rec. by WWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayley | 2 | 520 | 519 | |
| 2 | Becky Lynch | 3 | 216 | ||
| 3 | Charlotte Flair | 5 | 194 | 190 | |
| 4 | Alexa Bliss | 3 | 187 | 186 | |
| 5 | Sasha Banks | 1 | 167 | ||
| 6 | Naomi | 2 | 149 | 147 | |
| 7 | Carmella | 1 | 131 | 130 | |
| 8 | Asuka | 1 | 100 | 99 | |
| 9 | Liv Morgan | 1 | 98 | 97 | |
| 10 | Natalya | 1 | 86 | ||
| 11 | Bianca Belair | 1 | 15 | ||
| 12 | Ronda Rousey | 1 | 4 | ||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "SmackDown Women's Championship". WWE. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Martin, Adam (23 August 2016). "Daniel Bryan to reveal two new championships exclusive to Smackdown Live tonight from Connecticut". wrestleview.com. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "9/11 WWE Backlash Results – CALDWELL'S Complete PPV Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c Powell, Jason. "Powell's WWE TLC 2016 live review: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose in a TLC match for the WWE Championship, The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
- ^ Powell, Jason. "2/12 Powell's WWE Elimination Chamber 2017 live review: John Cena vs. AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin vs. Bray Wyatt in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c Keller, Wade. "KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 2/21: Results of Battle Royal to determine a new no. 1 contender for WWE Championship at WrestleMania". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ Powell, Jason (2 April 2017). "Powell's WrestleMania 33 live review: Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns, Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon, Seth Rollins vs. Triple H in an unsanctioned match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
- ^ Powell, Jason (20 August 2017). "Powell's WWE SummerSlam 2017 live review: Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, Jinder Mahal vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Championship, Sheamus and Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins for the Raw Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (November 14, 2017). "11/14 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: Natalya vs. Charlotte for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Baron Corbin vs. Sin Cara for the U.S. Title, New Day vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, final hype for Survivor Series". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
- ^ Powell, Jason. "4/10 Powell's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan, Paige named new general manager, New Day vs. The Usos for a Smackdown Tag Title shot at the Greatest Royal Rumble". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ Powell, Jason (19 August 2018). "Powell's WWE SummerSlam 2018 live review: Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship, Alexa Bliss vs. Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women's Championship, Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ Powell, Jason (16 September 2018). "Powell's WWE Hell in a Cell 2018 live review: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman in an HIAC for the WWE Universal Championship with Mick Foley as referee, AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Title, Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton in an HIAC match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ Powell, Jason (16 December 2018). "Powell's WWE TLC live review: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs Asuka in a TLC match for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the IC Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (March 26, 2019). "3/26 Barnett's WWE Smackdown Live TV Review: New Day respond to Vince McMahon sabotaging Kofi Kingston, Asuka vs. Charlotte for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Powell, Jason. "WrestleMania 35 results: Powell's live review of Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw and Smackdown Women's Titles, Daniel Bryan vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship, Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship, Batista vs. Triple H, AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (19 May 2019). "WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Universal Championship, Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch defends the Raw and Smackdown Women's Titles, two Money in the Bank ladder matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ Powell, Jason (6 October 2019). "WWE Hell in a Cell results: Powell's live review of Seth Rollins vs. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in an HIAC match for the WWE Universal Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks in an HIAC match for the Raw Women's Championship, Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
- ^ Powell, Jason (11 October 2019). "10/11 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of night one of the WWE Draft, Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns to determine which brand picks first, Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley for the Smackdown Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- ^ Powell, Jason (October 25, 2020). "WWE Hell in a Cell results: Powell's review of Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso in an I Quit Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Universal Championship, Bayley vs. Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell match for the Smackdown Women's Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ Powell, Jason (April 10, 2021). "WrestleMania 37 results: Powell's live review of night one featuring Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. AJ Styles and Omos for the Raw Tag Titles, Bad Bunny and Damian Priest vs The Miz and John Morrison". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (August 21, 2021). "WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. John Cena for the WWE Universal Championship, Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks for the Smackdown Women's Championship, Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Edge vs. Seth Rollins, Nikki ASH vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
External links edit
Category:WWE championships lists
Category:WWE SmackDown
Category:WWE women's championships
Category:Women's professional wrestling championships lists