Women's World Championship (WWE)

File:Becky 2 Belts.png, shown here after winning the title for a third time when it was known as the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 35, along with the then-Raw Women's Championship (right).]]

The Women's World Championship was originally established as the SmackDown Women's Championship on August 23, 2016. Its creation came as a result of the American professional wrestling promotion WWE reintroducing the brand extension, where the company again divided its roster between the Raw and SmackDown brands where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform; the first brand split ended in August 2011. During the 2016 draft, reigning 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, SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon and general manager Daniel Bryan unveiled the SmackDown Women's Championship (Raw's title was subsequently renamed as Raw Women's Championship).{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=Daniel Bryan to reveal two new championships exclusive to Smackdown Live tonight from Connecticut|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/66258-daniel-bryan-reveal-two-new-championships-exclusive-smackdown-live-tonight-connecticut/|work=WrestleView|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825185849/https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/66258-daniel-bryan-reveal-two-new-championships-exclusive-smackdown-live-tonight-connecticut/|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web|last=Parks|first=Greg|title=8/23 WWE Smackdown LIVE – Parks's Complete, Real-Time Report|date=August 23, 2016|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/08/23/823-wwe-smackdown-live-parkss-complete-real-time-report/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915221320/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/08/23/823-wwe-smackdown-live-parkss-complete-real-time-report/|url-status=live}} Lynch became the inaugural champion when she last eliminated Carmella.{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=9/11 WWE Backlash Results – Caldwell's Complete PPV Report|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/09/11/backlashppvresults/|date=September 11, 2016|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=September 11, 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818055942/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/09/11/backlashppvresults/|url-status=live}} The NXT Women's Championship would become WWE's third main women's title when NXT, the promotion's developmental brand, became recognized as WWE's third major brand in September 2019 when it was moved to the USA Network.{{cite web|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/triple-h-discusses-nxt-as-a-third-brand-putting-talent-in-a-position-to-succeed-more/|title=Triple H Discusses NXT as a Third Brand, Putting Talent in a Position to Succeed, More|first=Larry|last=Csonka|work=411Mania|date=May 10, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2023|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404010650/https://411mania.com/wrestling/triple-h-discusses-nxt-as-a-third-brand-putting-talent-in-a-position-to-succeed-more/|url-status=live}} However, this recognition was reversed when NXT reverted to being WWE's developmental brand in September 2021.{{cite magazine|last=Currier|first=Joseph|title=Preview and Predictions for 'NXT WarGames'|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/12/03/wwe-nxt-wargames-full-card-preview-predictions|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 3, 2021|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=December 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211125437/https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/12/03/wwe-nxt-wargames-full-card-preview-predictions|url-status=live}}

The title headlined a WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming event for the first time at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in December 2018, where Becky Lynch defended it in a triple threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match against Charlotte Flair and Asuka, which Asuka won; this was also the first women's TLC triple threat match.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|date=December 16, 2018|title=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|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/12/16/powells-wwe-tlc-live-review-becky-lynch-vs-charlotte-flair-vs-asuka-in-a-tlc-match-for-the-smackdown-womens-championship-daniel-bryan-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-championship-seth-rollins-vs-de/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322210549/https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/12/16/powells-wwe-tlc-live-review-becky-lynch-vs-charlotte-flair-vs-asuka-in-a-tlc-match-for-the-smackdown-womens-championship-daniel-bryan-vs-aj-styles-for-the-wwe-championship-seth-rollins-vs-de/|url-status=live}} The title was then on the line in a winner takes all triple threat match in the main event of WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, where Flair defended the title against Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey and Lynch, who won the match. This was the first women's match to main event a WrestleMania – WWE's flagship event.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/article/wrestlemania-to-feature-first-ever-womens-main-event|title=WrestleMania to feature first-ever women's main event|author=WWE.com Staff|date=March 25, 2019|work=WWE|access-date=March 25, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401051122/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/article/wrestlemania-to-feature-first-ever-womens-main-event|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=WrestleMania 35 event results 4/7: Keller's match report and analysis including Lesnar vs. Rollins, Rousey vs. Charlotte vs. Lynch, Bryan vs. Kofi, Batista vs. Triple H|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/04/07/wrestlemania-35-event-results-4-7-kellers-match-report-and-analysis-including-lesnar-vs-rollins-rousey-vs-charlotte-vs-lynch-bryan-vs-kofi-batista-vs-triple-h/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=April 7, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921194355/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/04/07/wrestlemania-35-event-results-4-7-kellers-match-report-and-analysis-including-lesnar-vs-rollins-rousey-vs-charlotte-vs-lynch-bryan-vs-kofi-batista-vs-triple-h/|archive-date=September 21, 2020|url-status=live}} At Super ShowDown in February 2020, the title became the first women's championship to be defended in Saudi Arabia, where Bayley retained the title over Naomi; this was only the second women's match contested in the country.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Super ShowDown results: Powell's live review of "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship, Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet for the WWE Championship, Big E and Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz and John Morrison for the Smackdown Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/02/27/wwe-super-showdown-results-powells-live-review-of-the-fiend-bray-wyatt-vs-goldberg-for-the-wwe-universal-championship-brock-lesnar-vs-ricochet-for-the-wwe-championship-big-e-and-kofi-kingst/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=February 27, 2020|access-date=February 27, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229152833/https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/02/27/wwe-super-showdown-results-powells-live-review-of-the-fiend-bray-wyatt-vs-goldberg-for-the-wwe-universal-championship-brock-lesnar-vs-ricochet-for-the-wwe-championship-big-e-and-kofi-kingst/|url-status=live}} The title would again be on the line in the main event of a WrestleMania, this time Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 in April 2021 where Bianca Belair defeated Sasha Banks to win the title;{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=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|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/04/10/wrestlemania-37-results-powells-live-review-of-night-one-featuring-sasha-banks-vs-bianca-belair-for-the-smackdown-womens-championship-bobby-lashley-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-wwe-championship-k/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=April 10, 2021|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411050550/https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/04/10/wrestlemania-37-results-powells-live-review-of-night-one-featuring-sasha-banks-vs-bianca-belair-for-the-smackdown-womens-championship-bobby-lashley-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-wwe-championship-k/|url-status=live}} this was also the first time that two African-Americans headlined a WrestleMania and only the second women's match to main event the annual show.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wwe/news/wrestlemania-37-match-grades-results-highlights/21jwmxhvk3iv1n0o39ojobz1x|title=WrestleMania 37 match grades: Bianca Belair, Sasha Banks make history in instant classic on Night 1|last=Hale|first=Andreas|date=April 11, 2021|work=Sporting News|access-date=April 12, 2021|quote=A historic main event, two African-American[s] headlining WrestleMania for the first time...|archive-date=April 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412123501/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/wwe/news/wrestlemania-37-match-grades-results-highlights/21jwmxhvk3iv1n0o39ojobz1x|url-status=live}} The title was defended for a second time in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel in 2021, where Becky Lynch retained against Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks in a triple threat match.{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=10/21 WWE Crown Jewel Results: Keller's report on Reigns vs. Lesnar, Big E vs. McIntyre, Seth vs. Edge in HIAC, Lynch vs. Banks vs. Belair, King and Queen tournament finals|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/10/21/10-21-wwe-crown-jewel-results-kellers-report-on-reigns-vs-lesnar-big-e-vs-mcintyre-seth-vs-edge-in-hiac-lynch-vs-banks-vs-belair-king-and-queen-tournament-finals/|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022191434/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/10/21/10-21-wwe-crown-jewel-results-kellers-report-on-reigns-vs-lesnar-big-e-vs-mcintyre-seth-vs-edge-in-hiac-lynch-vs-banks-vs-belair-king-and-queen-tournament-finals/|archive-date=October 22, 2021|url-status=live}}

As a result of the 2023 WWE Draft, the Raw and SmackDown women's championships switched brands and there were no title changes for either championship before draft results went into effect on May 8. The issue of the SmackDown Women's Championship being on Raw was then resolved on the June 12, 2023, episode of Raw. That night, WWE official Adam Pearce unveiled a new championship belt to reigning champion Rhea Ripley, with the title subsequently renamed as the Women's World Championship. This came shortly after the Raw Women's Championship reverted to its original name of WWE Women's Championship on June 9.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rhea-ripley-crowned-women-s-world-champion-given-new-title-belt-612-wwe-raw|title=Rhea Ripley Crowned Women's World Champion, Given New Title Belt On 6/12 WWE Raw|date=June 12, 2023|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|access-date=June 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613002641/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rhea-ripley-crowned-women-s-world-champion-given-new-title-belt-612-wwe-raw|archive-date=June 13, 2023|url-status=live}}

The championship was established to be exclusive to its namesake brand, SmackDown. An incident occurred in the 2021 WWE Draft where both the Raw and SmackDown women's champions were drafted to the opposite brands. To keep the titles on their respective brands, the champions swapped titles.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/10/22/10-15-wwe-smackdown-results-kellers-report-and-analysis-of-crown-jewel-fallout-and-first-look-at-the-new-post-draft-roster/|title=10/22 WWE SmackDown Results: Keller's report and analysis of Crown Jewel fallout and first look at the new post-draft roster|date=October 22, 2021|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024022124/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2021/10/22/10-15-wwe-smackdown-results-kellers-report-and-analysis-of-crown-jewel-fallout-and-first-look-at-the-new-post-draft-roster/|archive-date=October 24, 2021|url-status=live}} However, this same incident occurred in the 2023 draft, but the champions instead kept their titles, thus the titles changed brands despite their namesakes. This issue would be resolved as the titles were subsequently renamed to remove the brands.

{{multiple image

| image1 = Bayley Smackdown Champion 2019 02.jpg

| width1 = 151

| caption1 = Bayley with the original version of the championship belt when it was called the SmackDown Women's Championship (2016–2023)

| image2 = Naomi Glow Title.jpg

| width2 = 135

| caption2 = Two-time champion Naomi with her custom glowing SmackDown Women's Championship belt during her second reign in 2017.

| image3 = Rhea Ripley 2024.jpg

| width3 = 160

| caption3 = Rhea Ripley with the second and current design of the belt after it was renamed to the Women's World Championship (2023–present).

| direction =

}}

As the SmackDown Women's Championship, the title was represented by a belt using the same "Network Logo" design as the WWE Women's Championship, with the only difference being that the background of the center plate and the default side plates' globes were blue (as opposed to red) to symbolize its exclusivity to SmackDown. In what has become a prominent feature on all of WWE's championship belts, the side plates could be customized with the reigning champion's logo. During Naomi's second reign with the SmackDown Women's Championship belt in 2017, strips of multi interchanging colored LED lights were placed around the outline of the WWE logo and the outline of the belt to go with her "glow" gimmick.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2JPJ3fYiA|title=How Naomi made the SmackDown Women's Title glow: WWE Talking Smack, July 4, 2017 (WWE Network)|date=July 4, 2017|work=WWE|medium=YouTube|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706035925/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy2JPJ3fYiA&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}

When the title was renamed the Women's World Championship in June 2023, it adopted a near-identical design to the men's World Heavyweight Championship that had been introduced in April, albeit smaller, on a white strap, and with a small banner above the "World" banner that says "Women's". It also retains the customizable side plates.

{{main|List of Women's World Champions (WWE)}}

File:Iyo_Sky_2024_(cropped).jpg]]

As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, there have been 30 reigns between 14 champions and 2 vacancies. Becky Lynch was the inaugural champion. Charlotte Flair has the most reigns at seven. Bayley's second reign and Rhea Ripley's first reign are tied for the longest singular reign at 380 days (379 days for both as recognized by WWE), while Flair's fourth reign is the shortest at 4 minutes and 55 seconds. Bayley holds the record for the longest combined reign at 520 days. Becky Lynch is the oldest champion, having won the title at 37 years, 83 days old, while Alexa Bliss is the youngest when she won it at 25. Only two women have held the title for a continuous reign of one year (365 days) or more: Bayley and Rhea Ripley.

Iyo Sky is the current champion in her first reign. She defeated Rhea Ripley on the March 3, 2025 episode of Raw in Buffalo, New York.{{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/03/03/wwe-raw-results-3-3-powells-live-review-of-rhea-ripley-vs-iyo-sky-for-the-womens-world-championship-war-raiders-vs-the-creeds-for-the-world-tag-titles-elimination-chamber-fallout/|title=WWE Raw results (3/3): Powell’s live review of Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky for the Women’s World Championship, War Raiders vs. The Creeds for the World Tag Titles, Elimination Chamber fallout|last=Powell|first=Jason|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=March 3, 2025|access-date=March 3, 2025}}

• Women's championships in WWE

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Sports}}

• [https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/smackdown-womens-championship Official Women's World Title History]
• {{commonscatinline}}

{{Women in WWE}}

{{WWE Championships}}

{{WWE SmackDown Women's Championship}}

Category:WWE SmackDown

Category:WWE women's championships