WWE
Tim Fiorvanti, ESPN.com 7y

Alexa Bliss defeats Becky Lynch to become two-time SmackDown women's champion

WWE

After Naomi had to hand over her newly-won SmackDown women's championship to open Tuesday's edition of SmackDown Live, an impromptu match between the two former holders of that title led to Alexa Bliss becoming a two-time champion.

Bliss defeated Becky Lynch after a strike to the throat and a roll-up to earn her second reign as SmackDown women's champion. Bliss initially defeated Lynch for the title at the TLC pay-per-view on Dec. 4, and successfully defended it against Lynch a few weeks later inside of a steel cage, thanks to an assist from Mickie James (who was unmasked as "La Luchadora" in the process).

After holding the title for 70 days, Bliss lost the SmackDown women's championship to Naomi at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view on Feb. 12.

In a tearful segment Naomi, who walked to the ring wearing a knee brace on top of her tights, handed the title to general manager Daniel Bryan and relinquished her championship after just nine days; it was an especially poignant moment as Bryan, on several occasions over the course of his career, had to forfeit titles due to legitimate injuries.

After proclaiming that she would walk into WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, Florida, as SmackDown women's champion, Naomi's hopes of even appearing on the April 2 card are in serious jeopardy.

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