It has been over a year since WWE introduced its women’s mid-card titles to the main roster, with six different women having held the Intercontinental and United States Championships. However, the quality of their title reigns has varied significantly.
Since WWE’s launch, this milestone prompts a critical review of how the company has booked these champions, their reign quality, and which women have truly excelled as mid-card titleholders.
6. Zelina Vega
Zelina Vega stunned audiences by taking the United States Championship from Chelsea Green on the April 25, 2025 episode of SmackDown, ending Green’s first reign prematurely. While winning her first solo WWE title was a highlight, WWE showed little commitment to Vega as champion. Despite holding the belt for over two months, she managed just one successful defense against Green before losing it to Julia on June 27. Although Vega competed often and scored victories over Piper Niven and Alva Fire, her lack of title defenses and inconsistent booking make her the weakest mid-card women’s champion so far.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 1 | Chelsea Green |
5. Maxxine Dupri
Maxxine Dupri pursued the Intercontinental Championship with determination and established herself as a promising competitor. Nevertheless, it took an interference by AJ Lee for Dupri to shockingly defeat Becky Lynch and win the title at Madison Square Garden. Dupri’s reign was short-lived, with only one meaningful title defense against Ivy Nile, before she lost the belt back to Lynch after 49 days. Though uninspired overall, her time as champion gained some attention.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | 1 | Becky Lynch, Ivy Nile |
4. Julia
Despite controversy over her initial U.S. Championship win, Julia has risen in stature through her two reigns. First, she took the belt from Zelina Vega and then successfully defended it three times, including against Michin and Vega in a strong rematch. However, a brief and poorly booked loss to Chelsea Green on November 7 cast a shadow over her run. Later reclaiming the title, Julia has been featured more prominently on SmackDown and defended against Alexa Bliss, enhancing her brand as a credible champion.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 167 | 3 | Zelina Vega, Michin, Alexa Bliss |
3. Chelsea Green
As the inaugural U.S. Women’s Champion, Chelsea Green made significant strides in elevating the title’s status through her character work and personality. Although limited by repetitive booking and scant storyline development, Green’s efforts made her the most successful U.S. champion with five title defenses. Unfortunately, the overall state of the U.S. title scene hindered her from being regarded as WWE’s top mid-card champion.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 187 | 5 | Julia, Shepra, Sunrock |
2. Lyra Valkyria
Lyra Valkyria holds the distinction of being the first-ever women’s Intercontinental Champion and proved herself a deserving inaugural titleholder. Winning the finals against Dakota Kai in a tournament, Valkyria’s reign was marked by high-quality matches, most notably her memorable series against Becky Lynch. Over 144 days, she defended against the likes of Ivy Nile, Raquel Rodriguez, and Bayley, solidifying her status as a strong competitor poised for future success.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | 5 | Becky Lynch, Bailey, Raquel Rodriguez |
1. Becky Lynch
To date, Becky Lynch stands as the most accomplished mid-card women’s champion in WWE history. Her transition from main eventing to pursuing and holding the Intercontinental Championship instantly added legitimacy and prestige to the title. Lynch’s exceptional heel character work and intense rivalries with Lyra Valkyrie, Maxxine Dupri, AJ Lee, and Nikki Bella spotlight her impact. Across two reigns spanning over 190 days, she has successfully defended the title seven times, elevating the championship to new prominence in 2025-2026 despite occasional booking flaws.
| Duration (Days) | Successful Defenses | Notable Victories |
|---|---|---|
| 194+ | 7 | Lyra Valkyria, Maxxine Dupri, Nikki Bella |
Fan Take:
This review highlights the evolving landscape of WWE’s women’s mid-card championships, demonstrating the importance of strong storytelling and consistent booking in shaping credible champions. For WWE fans, seeing performers like Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyrie bring depth and excitement to these titles signals a promising future for the division and underscores the mid-card belts’ potential to elevate emerging talent and enrich the sport.
