Top 10 Women’s Championship Changes

By Jake Landmesser

December 22, 2018

In this new era, or is it the new new era? I don’t really know but the McMahons are still running the show. We have already seen some great changes to the shows. Whether or not these changes will continue long term is still to be determined. However, NXT call up , Mustafa Ali pinning WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, and a women’s gauntlet match sure seems like a good start. The past week of women’s excellence in the ring has sparked an idea in my head. I didn’t want to just look at the best women matches of all time. I wanted to focus on the moments where dreams came true. Where a childhood dream that seemed only possible for men was achieved by phenomenal talented women. The past 3 years of women’s wrestling has been incredible. From a Hell in a Cell match to a freaking Royal Rumble, then an Elimination Chamber and most recently a TLC match. We have seen an enormous amount of progress in this division. Now the ladies are on their way to main eventing WrestleMania. A feat the likes of CM Punk and Kane have never achieved. Try telling that to John Laurinaitis in the Diva era. I hope this list brings back some memories of the great moments in Women’s wrestling.

10. Six-Pack Elimination Challenge Women’s Title Match: Backlash 2016

After the brand split, we saw the then Women’s Championship turn into the Raw Women’s Championship. It was only a matter of time before the women of Smackdown got their own white strap. Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon announced that there would be a Six-Pack Elimination Challenge at Backlash to determine the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion. The six women involved included Naomi, Nikki Bella, Carmella, Natalya, Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch. This match was a great way to show case everyone’s talent and show that everyone could be considered a credible champion. It takes ten minutes before the first elimination which saw Bliss take a powerbomb blockbuster combination from Natalya and Naomi. Eventually we get down to Becky and Carmella and Lynch locks in the Dis-Arm-Her to become the first ever Smackdown Women’s Champion. Immediately after Carmella taps, they cut to a little girl in the crowd amazed in the victory. The wonder on her face said it all. Becky really deserved this win. Seeing her face when she’s handed the belt and gets her hand raised was really something special.

9. Paige vs. Emma — (NXT Women’s Championship Tournament Finals: NXT July 24^th, 2013)

In a tournament to decide who would be the first NXT Women’s Champion, we saw it come down to Paige and Emma. This title addition was not only the next big step for NXT, but women’s wrestling in general. This belt would be held by all main roster greats, and Paige was a great person to start with. In an amazing back and forth match with near falls galore, Paige hits the Paige Turner leaving Emma down for the three count. The two would later follow this classic up with another amazing match at NXT ArRival. I suggest you watch that as well. Once again, the pure emotion from Paige realizing what she had just done. From wrestling at the age of thirteen with her family to becoming the first NXT Women’s Champion. We then see the women of NXT come down to congratulate her, as well as Hunter doing his patented arm raise and finger point. This was a great start to a revolutionary NXT women’s roster.

8. Asuka vs. Bayley — NXT Women’s Championship — NXT Takeover Dallas

This is where the streak truly starts. Asuka was undefeated coming into this match after running through the roster, but here is where the incredible 523-day reign began. This match has hyped perfectly. The heart and soul of the Women’s division in NXT versus the Badass Empress of Tomorrow. The beginning of the match starts with the hot Dallas crowd chanting the Hey Bayley song. A lot of great technical wrestling throughout this match. Asuka’s plethora of submissions, and Bayley’s abundance of reversals show that these two were perfectly matched. But as the match went on and Asuka applied the Asuka lock, as much as Bayley tried to fight it, she does not tap but passes out. I always prefer a straight tap out, but I see why they did this. It shows how deadly Asuka can be, and it still protected Bayley because she didn’t give up. This match made me fall in love with Asuka. I remember watching this and imagining the possibilities, but I could have never imagined the run that she was about to have.

7. Toni Storm vs. Rhea Ripley — NXT UK Women’s Championship Tournament Finals — NXT UK, Nov. 28, 2018

WWE sure has expanded in the last couple of years. The UK division is an amazing thing for Professional Wrestling. It gives us the opportunity to see a flavor that most haven’t before. Having the exposure of the May Young Women’s classic opened a whole new world to fans. It showed that there are many markets and styles of wrestling, and the UK Women could draw. This was another fantastic tournament which saw Toni Storm and Rhea Ripley in the finals. Two monster talents going at it for the newest prized possession in WWE. Ripley focused on the back of Storm and did most damage with a back drop on the apron. Later, this allowed her to hit The Riptide on Storm and capture the title. It never ceases to make me smile seeing these competitors who have given their lives to this world be rewarded in such a way.

6. Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair — Raw Women’s Championship Match: Raw, Feb. 13, 2017

This match main evented Raw on the road to WrestleMania. Bayley even stated earlier in the night that they were on the level as Trish and Lita main eventing Raw for the first time. It certainly resembled that as Charlotte played the perfect heel, and Bayley as the ultimate babyface. This wasn’t just a straight forward match. Due to Dana Brooke being on the outside for Charlotte of course there would be some shenanigans. In the match Charlotte hits a beautiful Moon Sault off the barricade and starts to take control. Just as Charlotte looks for the finish and applied the Figure 4, Bayley fights and reverses it. And income the shenanigans as Dana rakes Bayley’s eyes which allows Charlotte to reapply the Figure Four into the Figure Eight. But the Boss comes to the rescue with her crutches and takes out Dana and then breaks the hold by hitting Charlotte with the crutch. Then Bayley hits the Bayley to Belly and dethrones the Queen! This was one of those amazing moments in wrestling. Televised title changes are the best ones. They’re unpredictable and this was Bayley’s night.

5. Asuka vs Charlotte vs Becky Lynch — Smackdown Women’s Championship Match — TLC 2018

We had seen an Elimination Chamber Match, a Hell in a Cell match, a Royal Rumble and finally were blessed with this TLC match. The most recent title change on this list came as Asuka defeated Charlotte and Becky Lynch capturing her first main roster championship. (With a little help from Ronda Rousey). How she won doesn’t matter. What matters is that Asuka finally is where she belongs. The match itself lived up to the hype. These three women put it all on the line and put on a spectacle. Shall we never forget that sitting seton from Becky on to Charlotte from the ladder onto the announce table. The reaction from Asuka as she’s all alone on the ladder knowing she is about to have a dream come true is priceless. The pure emotion from all the hard work put in paying off is great. This title change was the best thing to do at this moment, and it will be fun to see how the Empress of Tomorrow handles her reign.

4. Trish Stratus vs. Lita — Women’s Championship Match— Raw, December 6, 2004

This feud between Lita and Trish is seen as the most memorable woman rivalry of all time. These two took the time to improve their in-ring performance and prove that they deserve the time of day. On an early December night, they were given the chance to do something that has never been done before. Two female performers were about to close Monday Night Raw. They put everything on the line as Lita nearly breaks her neck taking a nasty bump from a suicide dive. After a back and forth contest Lita finally takes control with a Twist of Fate followed up with a picture-perfect Moon Sault. Once the refs hand hits the mat the third time you can see the relief of Lita after surviving that war. Coming out on top in her hometown winning the Women’s Championship in the main event of Monday Night Raw is something that not even Lita herself would think was possible. It’s amazing to see where women’s wrestling Is today, but this was the true starting point in the revolution.

3. Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch — (WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match: WrestleMania 32)

In this landmark match we see the reemergence of the Women’s Championship. So long butterfly, hello prestige. I remember when Lita revealed the design on the preshow thinking wow it’s just a different version of the WWE championship. But after a second look it truly was perfect for these women. They were on an equal playing field. Their top prize shouldn’t look too different from the men’s. I do understand that Charlotte was technically the champion coming into this match, but I’m including it in the list because they are vying for the new title. This was an amazing match. So many back and forth moments here. Even the Nature Boy got involved as Becky hits the suicide dive on him as he got into a WOO off with Sasha. Charlotte then hits the most beautiful Moon Sault that I’ve even seen. In a perfect way to end the match in Flair fashion, Charlotte locks in the Figure 8 as her father holds back Sasha from breaking up the hold leading Becky to tap. This was the crowning moment for not only the Queen Charlotte, but the women’s division. The women really proved themselves on the grandest stage of them all and put on one of the matches of the night. They showed that they weren’t going away, rather they were just getting started.

2. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair – Raw Women’s Title Falls Count Anywhere Match: Raw, Nov. 28, 2016

This was the first time that any women’s championship was defended in a Falls Count Anywhere match. It was the perfect fit for the rivalry between the Queen and the Boss. The two had been going back and forth with the title the past couple of months. The previous month saw Charlotte retain her championship at Hell in a Cell in Sasha’s hometown of Boston. This was Sasha’s time to spoil the Queen’s homecoming. The two made great use of the anywhere part of the match. Charlotte delivered a beautiful Moon Sault from the announce table on to Sasha. Banks wraps a kendo stick around Charlottes back leading the two into the stands. And then in perhaps the coolest finish ever Sasha puts Charlotte through the hand railing and applies a punishing Banks Statement. Charlotte taps immediately, and Sasha stands tall celebrating with the fans. The night ends with Ric Flair coming in the ring to raise her daughters’ rivals’ hand in a show of respect.

1. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley – (NXT Women’s Championship Match: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn)

This match is the greatest women’s match of all time. A great rivalry between real life friends. Breaking Kayfabe and all the four horsewomen meet in the center of the ring all celebrating the amazing match that had just been battled. The match itself was an all-out war. Hard hitting all the way through with the last five minutes having you bite on every near-fall. This twenty-minute classic had some amazing moments. Banks stomping on Bayley’s hand with the Banks statement locked in only to see Bayley reverse it into her own Banks statement. The most memorable moment from this match however is Bayley’s reverse hurricanrana from the top rope following up with a Bayley to Belly to win the belt. It gives me chills every time I watch it. Hearing the crowd counting each pin in anticipation that Bayley could do it is what it’s all about. And of course, the reaction from Bayley. Real tears in such a real moment.

Kudos to all the women that are on this list and every superstar that works their hardest to provide the best entertainment to us fans. We have been blessed with a new way of wrestling. A division that used to be a complete joke. Bra and Panties matches, Wet T-Shirt contests, and Mud Wrestling. These women have come a long way, and they have so much more to give. The playing field is now even, and there could come a time where the women’s division surpasses the men. Next stop, WrestleMania.