1st Anniversary Of The Womans Intercontinental Championship

Yesterday marked the 1-year anniversary of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and it’s safe to say the mid-card on Raw has been completely transformed. Since Lyra Valkyria made history as the inaugural champion last January, the title has become a true workhorse belt for the division.

We have seen three unique title holders so far, with Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch, and Maxxine Dupri each bringing a different energy to the gold. Lyra Valkyria reflected on the weight of being the first, saying,

"It's a big responsibility, and there's a lot of pressure that comes with it. But I think I'm kind of in control once I get in the ring... no one can take that away."

​Becky Lynch has clearly been the anchor of the championship’s first year, racking up a combined 171 days as champion across her reigns. True to form, "The Man" has focused on the legacy of the title, famously stating,

"I wasn't born to be champion—I fought to be champion... I want to take it and make sure everybody knows that this is why I’m the champ."

The most emotional moment of the year likely came from Maxxine Dupri, who shocked the world by capturing her first-ever title. She shared her disbelief afterward, saying,

"I thought I would wake up today with the words to describe what Monday night meant to me, but alas here I am never wanting to wake up from this dream... this win is so much bigger than me."

The stats really tell the story of how active this title has been. In just 365 days, we’ve seen 16 televised defenses, including 5 high-stakes matchups on PPV. Interestingly, Becky Lynch has been the common thread in nearly all the major moments, appearing in 11 of those 16 matches and every single one of the PPV defenses.

Now, the big question for the WWE Universe: are they doing enough with this title? On one hand, the frequency of defenses is incredible and gives the women more TV time than ever. On the other hand, with Becky being involved in over 60% of the title matches, some fans are wondering if it’s time to see more of the roster get a crack at the spotlight.

Do you think the title is being handled the right way, or do you want to see a fresh face enter the IC title picture as we head further into 2026? Drop your thoughts below!

Kimster AFW