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Women's World Championship (WWE)

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This article is about WWE's women's title used on Raw. For the women's title used on SmackDown, see WWE Women's Championship.
Women's World Championship
Rhea Ripley with the current design of the belt (2023–present)
Details
PromotionWWE
BrandRaw
Date establishedAugust 23, 2016
Current champion(s)Liv Morgan
Date wonMay 26, 2024
Other name(s)
  • WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
    (2016–2023)
  • Women's World Championship
    (2023–present)

The Women's World Championship wrestling championship in WWE competed by women of the Raw brand. It was created after the return of the brand extension. First known as the SmackDown Women's Championship, it was revealed on the August 23, 2016, episode of SmackDown as the counterpart to the WWE Women's Championship, which became exclusive to Raw as a result of the 2016 WWE Draft. The first champion was Becky Lynch. As a result of the 2023 WWE Draft, the Raw and SmackDown women's championships switched brands, with the SmackDown Women's Championship renamed as the Women's World Championship, while the Raw Women's Championship changed to its original name of WWE Women's Championship.

The title has been in the main event of three WWE premium live events: at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in 2018, together with the Raw Women's Championship at the time, at WWE's flagship event WrestleMania 35 in 2019, and by itself on Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 in 2021. It was also the first women's wrestling championship to be defended in Saudi Arabia, at Super ShowDown in 2020.

History

[change | change source]
Two-time champion Alexa Bliss with the first design of the belt (2016–2023)

With the return of the WWE Brand Extension in the middle of 2016,[1][2] a draft took place on July 19. The WWE Women's Champion Charlotte was drafted to Raw. As a result, SmackDown Live was left without a women's title.[3] On the August 23, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live, Shane McMahon introduced the SmackDown Women's Championship.[4] The first champion was crowned at Backlash on September 11, 2016, where Becky Lynch beat Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya and Nikki Bella in a six-pack elimination challenge to win the title.[5]

Following the 2023 WWE Draft, the Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships switched brands and there were no title changes for either championship before drafted wrestlers went to their brands on May 8. The problem was solved on the June 12, 2023, episode of Raw. WWE official Adam Pearce gave a new championship belt to reigning champion Rhea Ripley, with the title renamed as the Women's World Championship. This came shortly after the Raw Women's Championship became the WWE Women's Championship again on June 9.[6]

On the April 15, 2024 episode of Raw, the title was vacated for the first time, after Ripley injured her right arm. This ties Ripley and Bayley for the longest single reign at 380 days.[a][7] The following week on Raw, Becky Lynch won a Battle royal to win her fifth Women's World Championship.

Match to crown first champion

[change | change source]
Eliminated Wrestler Eliminated by Method of elimination Times[5]
1 Alexa Bliss Naomi Pinfall 9:38
2 Naomi Natalya Submission 10:52
3 Natalya Nikki Bella Pinfall 12:50
4 Nikki Bella Carmella 12:58
5 Carmella Becky Lynch Submission 14:40
Winner Becky Lynch

Title history

[change | change source]

As of December 4, 2024, there have been 27 reigns between 12 champions. The first champion was Becky Lynch, who won the title on SmackDown. The champions with the single longest reign are Bayley and Rhea Ripley with a reign of 380 days,[a] while the record for longest combined reign is also held by Bayley at 520 days. Charlotte Flair has the most reigns at seven. Only two women in history have held the championship for a continuous reign of one year (365 days) or more: Bayley and Rhea Ripley.

Names

[change | change source]
Name Years
WWE SmackDown Women's Championship August 23, 2016 – June 12, 2023
Women's World Championship June 12, 2023 – present

Reigns

[change | change source]
Key
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.
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, so SmackDown created the SmackDown Women's Championship. Lynch defeated Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya, and Nikki Bella in a six-pack elimination challenge to become the inaugural champion. [5]
2 Alexa Bliss December 4, 2016 TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Dallas, TX 1 70 69 This was a tables match. [8]
3 Naomi February 12, 2017 Elimination Chamber Phoenix, AZ 1 9 8 [9]
— Vacated February 21, 2017 SmackDown Ontario, CA — — — The championship was vacated when Naomi injured her knee and was unable to defend the title within 30 days. [10]
4 Alexa Bliss February 21, 2017 SmackDown Ontario, CA 2 40 40 Defeated Becky Lynch to win the vacant title. [10]
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. [11]
6 Natalya August 20, 2017 SummerSlam Brooklyn, NY 1 86 86 [12]
7 Charlotte Flair November 14, 2017 SmackDown Charlotte, NC 1 147 146 [13]
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. 		[14]
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. [15]
10 Becky Lynch September 16, 2018 Hell in a Cell San Antonio, TX 2 91 91 [16]
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. [17]
12 Charlotte Flair March 26, 2019 SmackDown Uncasville, CT 3 13 12 [18]
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 and SmackDown Women's Championship, also involving Ronda Rousey, who defended the Raw Women's Championship. Lynch pinned Rousey to win both titles. [19]
14 Charlotte Flair May 19, 2019 Money in the Bank Hartford, CT 4 <1 <1 [20]
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. [20]
16 Charlotte Flair October 6, 2019 Hell in a Cell Sacramento, CA 5 5 4 [21]
17 Bayley October 11, 2019 SmackDown Paradise, NV 2 380 379 [22]
18 Sasha Banks October 25, 2020 Hell in a Cell Orlando, FL 1 167 167 This was a Hell in a Cell match. [23]
19 Bianca Belair April 10, 2021 WrestleMania 37
Night 1 		Tampa, FL 1 133 132 [24]
20 Becky Lynch August 21, 2021 SummerSlam Paradise, NV 4 62 62 Bianca Belair was originally announces to defend the title against Sasha Banks, but before the match began, it was said that Banks was unable to wrestle for unknown reasons. Carmella was then announced as her new opponent, but Lynch made a surprise return, took out Carmella, and challenged Belair to an match that Belair accepted. [25]
21 Charlotte Flair October 22, 2021 SmackDown Wichita, KS 6 198 197 As a result of the 2021 WWE Draft, then Raw Women's Champion Charlotte Flair was drafted to SmackDown while Becky Lynch was drafted to Raw. To keep the titles to their brands, WWE official Sonya Deville made the two women switch championships. [26]
22 Ronda Rousey May 8, 2022 WrestleMania Backlash Providence, RI 1 55 55 This was an "I Quit" match. [27]
23 Liv Morgan July 2, 2022 Money in the Bank Paradise, NV 1 98 97 This was Morgan's Money in the Bank cash-in match. Morgan was a member of the Raw roster before the cash-in. She was drafted to SmackDown after winning the championship. [28]
24 Ronda Rousey October 8, 2022 Extreme Rules Philadelphia, PA 2 83 83 This was an Extreme Rules match. [29]
25 Charlotte Flair December 30, 2022 SmackDown Tampa, FL 7 92 92 [30]
26 Rhea Ripley April 1, 2023 WrestleMania 39
Night 1 		Inglewood, CA 1 380 380 Ripley won the championship as a member of the Raw brand, but the title did not officially switch to Raw until the 2023 WWE Draft. It was renamed as the Women's World Championship on the June 12, 2023, episode of Raw. [31]
— Vacated April 15, 2024 Raw Montreal, QC, Canada — — — Rhea Ripley vacated the title due to an arm injury. [7]
27 Becky Lynch April 22, 2024 Raw Columbus, OH 5 33 33 This was a 15-woman Battle Royal for the vacant title in which Lynch last eliminated Liv Morgan to win. [32]
28 Liv Morgan May 25, 2024 King and Queen of the Ring Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2 193+ 193+ [33]

Combined reigns

[change | change source]

As of December 4, 2024.

† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns 		Combined
days 		Combined days
rec. by WWE
1 Bayley 2 520 519
2 Charlotte Flair 7 483 479
3 Rhea Ripley 1 380 379
4 Becky Lynch 5 311 310
5 Liv Morgan † 2 291+ 290+
6 Sasha Banks 1 167
7 Naomi 2 149 147
8 Ronda Rousey 2 138
9 Bianca Belair 1 133 132
10 Carmella 1 131 130
11 Alexa Bliss 2 110 109
12 Asuka 1 100 99
13 Natalya 1 86

Footnotes

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 WWE lists Bayley's second reign as lasting 379 days, and therefore only Ripley's first reign as the longest single reign.

References

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  2. ↑ "WWE's destiny to be determined during SmackDown's Live premiere". WWE. June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  3. ↑ "2016 WWE Draft results: WWE officially ushers in New Era". WWE. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Parks, Greg. "8/23 WWE Smackdown LIVE – Parks's Complete, Real-Time Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Caldwell, James (September 11, 2016). "9/11 WWE Backlash Results – Caldwell's Complete PPV Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ Defelice, Robert (June 12, 2023). "Rhea Ripley Crowned Women's World Champion, Given New Title Belt On 6/12 WWE Raw". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Russell, Skylar (April 15, 2024). "Rhea Ripley Confirms Injury, Vacates WWE Women's World Championship On 4/15 WWE Raw". Fightful. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  8. ↑ Powell, Jason (December 4, 2016). "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. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  9. ↑ Powell, Jason (February 12, 2017). "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. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Keller, Wade (February 21, 2017). "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. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 2, 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. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  12. ↑ Powell, Jason (August 20, 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. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  13. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  14. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 10, 2018). "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. Archived from the original on April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  15. ↑ Powell, Jason (August 19, 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. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  16. ↑ Powell, Jason (September 16, 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. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Powell, Jason (December 16, 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. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  18. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  19. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 7, 2019). "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 Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Powell, Jason (May 19, 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. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  21. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 6, 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. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  22. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 11, 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. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  23. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  24. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  25. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  26. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 22, 2021). "10/22 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair swapping title belts, the coronation of Xavier Woods as King of the Ring". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  27. ↑ Powell, Jason (May 8, 2022). "WWE WrestleMania Backlash results: Powell's live review of Roman Reigns and The Usos vs. Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro, Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey in an I Quit match for the Smackdown Women's Title, Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins, Edge vs. AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley vs. Omos, Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  28. ↑ Powell, Jason (July 2, 2022). "WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's review of the MITB ladder matches, The Usos vs. The Street Profits for the Undisputed WWE Tag Titles, Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya for the Smackdown Women's Title, Bianca Belair vs. Natalya for the Raw Women's Title, Theory vs. Bobby Lashley for the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  29. ↑ Powell, Jason (October 8, 2022). "WWE Extreme Rules results: Powell's review of Matt Riddle vs. Seth Rollins in a Fight Pit match with Daniel Cormier as special referee, Bianca Belair vs. Bayley in a ladder match for the Raw Women's Title, Liv Morgan vs. Ronda Rousey in an Extreme Rules match for the Smackdown Women's Title, Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross in a strap match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  30. ↑ Keller, Wade (December 30, 2022). "12/30 WWE SmackDown results: Keller's report on Cena & Owens vs. Reigns & Sami, Rousey vs. Rodriguez, Sikoa vs. Sheamus". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  31. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 1, 2023). "WrestleMania 39 results: Powell's live review of night one with Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley for the Smackdown Women's Title, Austin Theory vs. John Cena for the U.S. Title, Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  32. ↑ Powell, Jason (April 22, 2024). "WWE Raw results (4/22): Powell's live review of the battle royal for the vacant Women's World Championship, R-Truth and The Miz vs. DIY for the World Tag Team Titles, Gunther's return". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  33. ↑ Powell, Jason (May 25, 2024). "WWE King and Queen of the Ring results: Powell's live review of Cody Rhodes vs. Logan Paul for the WWE Title, Gunther vs. Randy Orton in the KOTR finals, Nia Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria in the QOTR finals". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
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