The Great Eight: Top 8 WWE Women’s Champions

Before 2013, the women in the WWE had long been relegated to eye candy and sub-5-minute-long matches. But then NXT came along, and Triple H gave the women a chance to go out and be wrestlers.

No longer regulated to eye candy, women like Paige, Emma, and the Four Horsewomen made fans take notice. After a social media movement, things started changing on the main roster as well. And at WrestleMania 32, the Divas Championship was retired, and the Women’s Championship returned.

The title was then split into the SmackDown and Raw Women’s Championships and eventually became the WWE and World Women’s Championships we have now. As a woman, I love seeing the scene we have today. While the booking on SmackDown could use a massive overhaul, the women in NXT and the WWE consistently put on some of the best matches on TV each week. So, let’s celebrate the best of the best of the WWE Women’s Champions!

Fun Facts:

Since its introduction at WrestleMania 32, there have been a combined 65 reigns between 29 individuals.

Charlotte Flair holds the record for the most reigns with 13. (She also holds the record for most reigns for the individual titles at six and seven respectfully).

Bianca Belair is the longest reigning Women’s Champion at 419 days.

Bayley and Rhea Ripley are tied for the longest reign as Women’s World Champion at 379 days.

Becky Lynch also holds the record for combined days as champion at 1,078 days.

Bayley holds the record for combined days as Women’s World Champion at 519 days.

Becky Lynch holds the record for combined days as the WWE Women’s Champion at 559 days.

Charlotte Flair also holds the record for the shortest Women’s World Champion reign at only 4:55.

Bianca Belair also holds the record for the shortest WWE Women’s Champion at only 1:35.

Ranking Explanation:

If the intro isn’t clear enough, this list covers the WWE Women’s Championship. From its debut at WrestleMania 32, through the Branded Championships, to today.

As always, champions are rated on the number of reigns, length of reigns, quality of work, and memorable moments.

Plugs

I don’t use social media, but you can follow me on Spotify, where you’ll find playlists covering every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. As well as several genre-specific playlists.

Disclaimer:

This is my list; if you don’t like it or have a different list, awesome! Please share your own list and opinions in the comments section. I welcome open discourse about this wacky art we all love. It is an art form, so it is subjective; we all have our opinions on it, and all of them are valid. So, if you want to share your thoughts and opinions, don’t insult others for their opinion. There is already enough negativity in the world; let’s not add to it. And with that, on to the list!

The List

Honorable Mentions:

Liv Morgan, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton

8: Sasha Banks

One of the Four Horsewomen, and one of the pillars of the Women’s Revolution. Banks was the constant spoiler to Charlotte during the early days of their era. The two traded wins and titles as they laid the foundation for what we have today.

While Banks would ultimately walk out on the company and become a belt collector in AEW. Fans fondly remember her time in the WWE of that era. Her booking was always frustrating to me, though; she would beat Charlotte on Raw, only to lose to her on the next PLE. And while she got to be part of a lot of firsts, like the first women’s Hell in a Cell match. She usually did so as second fiddle to Charlotte.

And while she had many great matches, with some top-tier opponents. Her crowning achievement in the WWE is probably being one-half of the first-ever WrestleMania Main Event to be headlined by two Black wrestlers. Banks gave us her all and gave the women who came after her a blueprint of how to be a successful woman in the WWE.

7: Asuka

Nobody is ready for Asuka. And the fact that she only had four reigns as champion is mind-boggling. Asuka has long been one of the best wrestlers in the WWE, and her natural charisma transcends the language barrier.

I will never stop being frustrated that her streak was fed to Charlotte. And again, why have her lose if Nakamura was also losing? Any, rant over before it starts. Asuka was not only one of the best, paving her own way to the top. She blazed the trail for women like IYO SKY to come over from Japan and be a major star in the WWE.

Asuka’s talent earned her 476 days as champion, across her four reigns. And she put on bangers with everyone she stepped into the ring with. Having classics with Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, and Sasha Banks. A surefire Hall of Famer, Asuka may be semi-retired, but she is still an ever-present threat looming over any Women’s Champion in the WWE.

6: IYO SKY

The Genius of the Sky, IYO SKY, is one of the best. Not just in the WWE, and not just for women, but one of the best in the world. She may have only had two reigns as Women’s Champion so far. But She isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. She is currently in the finals to be this year’s Queen of the Ring. Which means she may get a third reign at SummerSlam.

SKY’s talent is undeniable, and like Asuka, her innate charisma overcomes any language barrier she may have with fans. I doubt many wrestlers could get the bobblehead point over like SKY has. And I think that may speak to her charisma more than anything. Fans just want to love her, so much so that she has gotten cheers over Rhea Ripley.

I hope SKY is getting another title at SummerSlam and that she is given more to do with it this time around. She is more than deserving of a long run filled with great matches. And even if that doesn’t happen, she is still one of the best in the world and one of the best Women’s Champions of all time.

5: Rhea Ripley

One of the most popular wrestlers on the planet today. Ripley gets some of the loudest pops on any show she is on. I can’t pinpoint exactly why the goth girl from Australia has captured fans. But a lot of it has to do with her in-ring talent, charisma, and the fact that she doesn’t look like a typical blonde bombshell.

Whatever it is, Mami was kind of in the middle of the pack before joining the Judgement Day. But it was her time in the group and the original love interest of Dirty Dom that really got her over with the fans. By the time the group turned on her, in favor of Liv Morgan, she had transcended to megastardom and has never looked back.

Her first reign ties with Bayley for the longest reign as Women’s World Champion. If she hadn’t injured her shoulder, she probably would have the record. She wasn’t showing any signs of slowing down at the time.

At this point, I think it’s safe to say Ripley is a future Hall of Famer. She is not only a multi-time champion, with a record-tying run. She has also put on some absolute bangers with a diverse set of opponents. And with no signs of stopping, I’m sure she is going to rack up more titles before she decides to hang them up. If I do this list again in a few years, she will probably move up a spot or two.

4: Bianca Belair

If Belair is never able to return to the ring, then she can hang her hat on a Hall of Fame career. Three World Championships, 551 combined days as champion, the longest reign as the Women’s Champion, and one of the only four women to hold the title for a continuous year. Add to that, she is also the other half of that historic WrestleMania main event with Sasha Banks.

This doesn’t even touch on her numerous amazing matches with numerous opponents. Belair and her trademark braid were often a highlight on any show she was on. Her presence has been missed over the last year, and I hope she can find her way back.

I’d love to see her mix it up with some of the new talent. Women like Sol Ruca, Tiffany Stratton, Jordann Grace, Guila, Blake Monroe, and Lyra Valkyria would all be able to have great feuds for a returning Belair, and I can’t wait for her to be back.

3: Bayley

The often overlooked fourth Horsewoman, Bayley, always seemed a step behind the likes of Flair, Lynch, and Banks. Which is a damn shame, because Bayley is lowkey one of the best to ever do it. She thrives in whatever role she is given and gives her all to elevate everyone around her.

Tied with Ripley for the longest reigning Women’s World Champion and also having the most combined days as Women’s World Champion. Bayley has used her talent, both in the ring and out, to be a constant in the division.

Bayley’s willingness to put others over and help get the next generation ready speaks volumes to the kind of wrestler she is. She knows she isn’t going to be able to wrestle forever, and so she has made her lasting legacy by helping to bring others up around her. At times, to her own detriment.

Bayley will likely have a long career, even after retirement. I know she has spoken about wanting to be a producer and trainer. And she is already holding camps for women wrestlers. Her guidance is invaluable to any up-and-coming woman. And that willingness to help others adds so much prestige to the title she has carried proudly throughout her career.

2: Charlotte Flair

The Queen and the 13-time Women’s World Champion, Charlotte Flair has carved out a legacy all her own. She is up there with Bret & Owen Hart, The Rock, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, and Roman Reigns as talents who not only carried their family name but lifted it higher.

Flair has a lot of love and hate from fans. Unfortunately, a lot of fans focus on her looks as a way to mock her. But the way fans judge women’s wrestlers is another article altogether. I understand the hate she gets for seemingly being married to the Championship for most of her career. She would hold the belt, lose it, go away for a while, and then come back and win it again. It was as if Flair were active; she had to be champion.

This perception has shifted over the last year. Her team with Bliss has done a lot to rehabilitate her image. And while her booking was frustrating for a lot of fans, it’s hard to deny her talent. Flair cuts a great heel promo and can put on good matches with almost anyone, and great matches with the top talent.

She didn’t get 13 reigns as champion for no reason. No level of perceived favoritism will get you that far. She has been a part of some of the best women’s matches in WrestleMania history. (Both Triple-Threats and both Rhea Ripley matches.) As well as countless firsts for women wrestlers in the WWE. She will most likely be a first ballot Hall of Famer, and whether you love her or hate her, it’s hard to argue her right to be in this spot on the list.

1: Becky Lynch

The best women’s wrestler in the world (according to Sports Illustrated and the Bleacher Report). Becky Lynch went from the dark horse of the Four Horsewomen to one of the greatest of all time. She was never supposed to be in the spots she had. Always a backup plan for Charlotte or Banks. But Lynch refused to stay down and worked her ass off to make it to the pinnacle of the business.

The failed turn on Flair propelled her to become the Man. And from there, she would be the winner of the first women’s main event of WrestleMania. Going over not only Charlotte Flair but Ronda Rousey as well.

It was that win that would cement her as one of the best. She would become Becky Two-Belts and hold the Raw Championship for 398 days. She never lost the title. She was forced to vacate the title due to getting pregnant.

After returning, she would once again become champion before dropping it to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38.

She’d have one more title reign before taking time off. Since returning, she has been lending her name and experience to establish the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. But now that she seems done with the title for now. It’s only a matter of time before Lynch comes after whoever walks out of SummerSlam as champion.

As of now, Lynch is the greatest WWE Women’s Champion of all time. And there is no telling what she will do between now and retiring to add to that legacy. And like so many on this list, Lynch is a future Hall of Famer. Honestly, I am looking forward to that all-women’s class, when they induct Lynch, Flair, Bayley, Asuka, and Banks.

Preview:

Tune in next week, when we look at the top eight wrestlers to never win a World Championship!