The first of the two-night WrestleMania 39 extravaganza has seen a new SmackDown Women’s Champion crowned as Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair to become the new champion. Ripley earned this opportunity by winning the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble as she was the first-ever winner to enter from number one and win the match. This is the first time that “Mami” has held the SmackDown Women’s Championship and her first time holding a singles title since she lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Flair at Money in the Bank 2021. The victory for the new champion ends Flair’s 14th reign as world champion at 92 days.
Counter after counter for the SmackDown Women’s Championship! @MsCharlotteWWE @RheaRipley_WWE @WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/2IJLYC96GJ
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) April 2, 2023
Overcoming Charlotte Flair has long been a goal for Rhea Ripley, who saw both her Raw Women’s Championship and NXT Women’s Championship reigns come to an end at the hands of “The Queen,” including at WrestleMania 36. Ever since winning the Royal Rumble, Ripley has made it clear that it was her destiny to win the title and defeat Flair in the process. After rebuilding herself as a member and eventually the unofficial leader of The Judgement Day, it felt inevitable that “Mami” would rise back to the top of WWE once again.
Who will be the first to step up to Ripley now that she’s champion? We’ll have to wait and see.
Make sure to check back to Last Word on Sports for all the major news as WrestleMania and the fallout from the show continues.
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