The WWE SmackDown Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE on the SmackDown brand. It is one of two women's championships for WWE's main roster, along with the Raw Women's Championship on the Raw brand. The current champion is Naomi, who is in her first reign.
Unveiled on the August 23, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live, 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. That title was subsequently renamed after the crowning of the inaugural SmackDown Women's Champion, Becky Lynch.
History
Following the reintroduction of the WWE brand extension and subsequent draft on July 19, 2016, WWE Women's Champion Charlotte was drafted to Raw, leaving SmackDown without a women's championship. Immediately following SummerSlam on the August 23, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live, SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon and general manager Daniel Bryan unveiled the SmackDown Women's Championship (Raw's title was subsequently renamed). A six-pack elimination challenge was then scheduled for Backlash on September 11, 2016 to determine the inaugural champion. The six women who competed at SummerSlam in the six-woman tag team match were chosen for the six-pack challenge: Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya, and Nikki Bella. Lynch became the inaugural champion when she last eliminated Carmella.
The championship belt design is nearly identical to the Raw Women's Championship with the difference being that the background of the center plate and the default side plates' globes are blue (as opposed to red for both) to symbolize its exclusivity to SmackDown. As with Raw's Women's Championship, the side plates can be customized with the champion's logo.
Inaugural championship match
| Eliminated | Wrestler | Eliminated by | Method of elimination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
Alexa Bliss | Naomi | Pinned after a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination with Natalya | 9:38 |
| 2
|
Naomi | Natalya | Submitted to the Sharpshooter | 10:52 |
| 3
|
Natalya | Nikki Bella | Pinned after a fireman's carry cutter | 12:00 |
| 4
|
Nikki Bella | Carmella | Pinned with a roll-up | 12:08 |
| 5
|
Carmella | Becky Lynch | Submitted to the Dis-arm-her | 14:40 |
| Winner
|
Becky Lynch | |||
Reigns
As of April 19, 2024, overall there have been 3 reigns between 3 champions. Becky Lynch was the inaugural champion, who defeated Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya, and Nikki Bella in a six-pack elimination challenge on September 11, 2016 at Backlash in Richmond, Virginia. Lynch has the longest reign at 84 days (though WWE says 85 days), while Bliss has the shortest at 70 days. Lynch is also the oldest champion, having won the title 224 days after turning 29, while Bliss is the youngest at 25.
Naomi is the current champion who is in her first reign. She defeated former champion Alexa Bliss at Elimination Chamber on February 12, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Custom Designs
See also
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- Champion history - History of the wrestlers who have held the belt.
- Title matches - Matches in which the title was defended.
- Champion gallery - A gallery of all champions.
External links
- WWE Smackdown Women's Championship at CAGEMATCH.net
- Official WWE Smackdown Women's Championship Title History