Newly crowned Champion has successful first title defense for the first time in 2,685 days on WWE SmackDown

A current Champion officially had her first successful title defense (in WWE) on SmackDown in over 2,685 days. It came as a result of unexpected circumstances, but the outcome was the retaining of championships.

On the December 20 episode of SmackDown, Candice LeRae managed to use Nia Jax's power as WWE Women's Champion to secure a Tag Team Title match against Bianca Belair and Naomi. As you know, Jade Cargill was injured, and it seemed like the obvious choice to vacate the Women's Tag Team Titles, but Belair refused, and Naomi stepped up - similar to last year when Piper Niven replaced Sonya Deville as one-half of the Tag Team Champions.

In her first title defense in WWE in well over seven years, Naomi and Bianca Belair successfully retained the titles against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. If you look at the fact that Naomi's last successful title defense in WWE was with the SmackDown Women's Championship, then it has officially been 2,685 days since she last retained a title in WWE.

Of course, while she performed as Trinity in Impact Wrestling, she was the Knockouts World Champion and had a respectable reign where she held the title for five months.

She defended it against some prolific names like Alisha Edwards, Deonna Purazzo (who she dethroned), and even Mickie James. She lost the title to the incredible Jordynne Grace - who went on to have a career-defining year in 2024.

Even if you count that, it has been 14 months since her last title defense. There is still suspicion that she could be Jade Cargill's mystery attacker.

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