Charlotte Flair is back on top of WWE Smackdown with a sudden championship win within just a few minutes of her return. She defeated the former champion Ronda Rousey to become the new title-holder of the blue brand and thereby create history.
Initially, Ronda Rousey defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship with her Arm Bar submission. Soon after the win, Charlotte Flair walked out with new music inspired by her father Ric Flair, a new look, and new in-ring gear. She was quick to challenge Rousey for another championship match, right there.
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Shayna Baszler who was accompanying Rousey in the ring for the title match advised to her deny the challenge but the champion was infuriated enough to accept and start the title match, right away. This gave an advantage to the challenger since Rousey was war-torn from the earlier match against Raquel.
Charlotte Flair would attempt a spear on Rousey which was countered with an arm bar. But it was reversed with a roll-up combination for the pinfall victory. Rousey was protected in the loss as her tights were firmly grabbed. The crowd in Tampa, Florida went fully nuts as the second-generation athlete celebrated her victory with her newly own title.
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14x World Champion!@MsCharlotteWWE #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zTQOEhNKFw
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 31, 2022
Charlotte Flair is one step closer to breaking her father’s record
With this win, Charlotte Flair has become a 14-time women’s champion in WWE to make history as she holds the most number of women’s title wins. After last night, she is just two more title wins away from leveling his father Ric Flair’s 16 world championship win records. Going by her success rate that could happen in 2023.
Charlotte Flair had been away from WWE programming since dropping the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Ronda Rousey in an I Quit Match at the WrestleMania Backlash premium live event on May 8. She requested time off after that match due to her scheduled marriage with AEW star Andrade El Idolo in that month, itself.
Over the past several weeks or so, The Queen was hinting at her imminent return through social media posts. Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer reported in October that WWE officials had already started creative planning on the return. There was uncertainty over which brand she’d be assigned to but now she’s back to rule the Smackdown brand.
