2022 has been quite the year for women’s wrestling in all promotions. In WWE, there have been 9 different title changes between the Raw Women’s Championship, the Smackdown Women’s Championship, and the Women’s Tag Team Championship throughout the year. In this list, I will be ranking each of these title changes and their respective reigns based on how long the title reign was, championship defenses, and the match where the championship(s) changed hands. I will not be including NXT on this list and will be ranking them worst to best. Disagree with my list? Post your list in the comments below or tweet me your list at @WWTalkPod and @abbimcmillen.
#9- Alexa Bliss and Asuka (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
On the October 31st edition of Raw, Alexa Bliss and Asuka defeated Damage CTRL to win their first tag team championship together. Just days before Crown Jewel, this title change seemed odd since the two teams would also face each other at the live event. The match itself was great. Bayley tried getting involved, but Bianca Belair would make the save. Iyo Sky missed a moonsault which led to Alexa hitting her with a Twisted Bliss to pick up the victory. Alexa Bliss and Asuka would only hold the titles for four days before losing to Damage CTRL at the event.
#8- Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
After Sasha Banks and Naomi left WWE, the women’s tag team championship was forgotten for months. A tag team championship tournament was announced in August. On Raw’s August 29th episode, Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez faced Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai) in the tournament’s finale. Since Damage CTRL debuted at SummerSlam a few weeks prior, fans expected them to win. Aliyah and Raquel became tag team champions for the first time, shocking everyone. After losing the titles, both women have been absent from television.
#7- Damage CTRL (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
As previously mentioned, Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez only held the women’s tag team championship for 13 days. This is because Damage CTRL defeated them for the titles on the September 12th edition of Raw. Although it wasn’t necessarily a “clean” victory, Damage CTRL proved that they were not a group to mess with as Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky won their first tag team championship together, with the help of Bayley. Damage CTRL’s reign lasted for an impressive 48 days until they lost to Alexa Bliss and Asuka.
#6- Damage CTRL (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Damage CTRL’s second reign and current reign occurred on November 5th when they defeated Asuka and Alexa Bliss. The match took place at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia and marked the first time that a women’s championship had changed hands in the Middle East. Just days prior, Alexa and Asuka had shocked Damage CTRL by picking up a victory and becoming the new champions. However, Dakota and Iyo would get their revenge at Crown Jewel. When Damage CTRL hit Alexa Bliss with a Twisted Neck breaker behind the referee’s back, Nikki Cross appeared to help. As of this writing, Dakota and Iyo have held the tag team championship for 37 days. Due to their historic Middle East match, this reign is ranked higher than their previous reign.
#5- Ronda Rousey (Smackdown Women’s Championship)
Ronda Rousey challenged Smackdown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan for the championship at Extreme Rules on October 8. Rousey wanted revenge on Liv after Liv cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Rousey after she was broken down after defending the championship. Ronda attacked Liv at SummerSlam after Liv retained her championship, and the referee was suspended. After returning from her suspension, Ronda earned a championship against Liv where she was ultimately victorious. The match itself was alright, I would argue that their SummerSlam match was a little better. Ronda has been the Smackdown Women’s Champion (her second reign) for 65 days as of this writing and has successfully defended the championship against Shotzi and Emma, so far.
#4- Ronda Rousey (Smackdown Women’s Championship)
At WrestleMania Backlash, Ronda Rousey faced Charlotte Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship in an “I Quit” match. After winning the 2022 Royal Rumble, Ronda challenged Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38. Charlotte got the victory and retained the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Ronda was not pleased and earned herself a rematch against Charlotte at Backlash on May 8th, 2022. She forced Charlotte to quit in a very good showing between the women and won her very first Smackdown Women’s Championship. During her 55-day reign, Ronda defended her championship successfully against Raquel Rodriguez and Natalya. She would ultimately lose the Smackdown Women’s Championship to Liv Morgan when Liv cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase. I ranked Ronda’s first reign above her second (and current) reign due to the difference in match quality between her and Charlotte Flair and her and Liv Morgan.
#3- Sasha Banks and Naomi (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Sasha Banks and Naomi had the most controversial title reign of the year. Sasha and Naomi challenged champions Carmella and Zelina Vega, Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan, and Natalya and Shayna Baszler on night two of WrestleMania 38. Before this match, it seemed like WWE didn’t care about the women’s tag team championship, with teams being thrown together and little forward thinking. Naomi and Sasha appeared to want to change that. They won the fatal four-way and became champions for the first time. While they held the titles, the women’s tag division seemed to be back on track and important again. Unfortunately, WWE didn’t seem to appreciate Sasha and Naomi trying to elevate the belts, and creative differences led to Sasha and Naomi leaving WWE and leaving the championships on the desk. Sasha and Naomi were tag team champions for 46 days at that point, and one can only guess how long they would have held the title. After the incident, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship was vacated. Since they were never pinned for the championships, they are so high on the list.
#2- Liv Morgan (Smackdown Women’s Championship)
Liv Morgan had her best year yet in 2022. At Money in the Bank on July 2, she won the women’s ladder match to earn a championship match at any time. She cashed in the briefcase later that match on Smackdown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey, who had just defeated Natalya. Liv was able to defeat Ronda with ease and become Smackdown Women’s Champion for the first time. She also had an impressive first reign at 97 days. During her reign, she defended her championship successfully against Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. She eventually lost the championship back to Ronda Rousey at Extreme Rules on October 8th.
#1- Bianca Belair (Raw Women’s Champion)
Closing out our list at #1 is the current Raw Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. Bianca has had yet another incredible year in the WWE and I don’t think she’ll be slowing down anytime soon. At SummerSlam 2021, Becky Lynch defeated Bianca in 26 seconds to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Bianca was drafted to Raw after losing the championship and won the women’s Elimination Chamber match, which brought her back to Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship. The match was set between Belair and Lynch for night 1 of WrestleMania 38. Bianca had a full marching band playing her out to the ring, making it known that this was going to be a very special night for her. Bianca and Becky put on an incredible match, leaving the crowd wanting more. Belair was victorious, winning her very first Raw Women’s Championship at the grandest stage of them all. It would just be the beginning for Bianca though as she controlled the entire Raw women’s division all year. As of this writing, she has held the Raw Women’s Championship for 254 days. During her 250+ day reign, she defeated Bayley, Sonya Deville, Becky Lynch, Carmella, and Asuka.
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