Top 10: Charlotte Flair's Defining WWE Career Moments

The Big Picture

Charlotte Flair remains the most polarizing figure in women's wrestling, a 14-time champion defined by high-stakes matches and controversial booking. We are ranking the ten moments that shaped her career, separating in-ring classics from polarizing booking. This is a critical breakdown of the milestones that cemented her position at the top.

The Rankings

10. Night of Champions 2015: The Divas Title Takeover

Charlotte Flair captured her first main-roster singles title on September 20, 2015, forcing Nikki Bella to submit to the Figure-Eight Leglock in 9 minutes and 42 seconds. This victory ended Nikki's record-setting 301-day reign, signaling the arrival of the NXT "Women's Revolution." However, the match suffered from clunky pacing, with Flair selling a knee injury that halted the crowd's momentum before the sudden finish. It was not pretty. It ranks tenth because it was a booking necessity rather than an in-ring classic, lacking the fluid exchanges of her later work.

9. SummerSlam 2019: Defeating Trish Stratus

Flair defeated Hall of Famer Trish Stratus at SummerSlam on August 11, 2019, forcing the legend to tap out to the Figure-Eight after a grueling 15-minute contest. Stratus returned for this attraction match in Toronto, delivering a performance that exceeded expectations, including a mid-match Stratusfaction and a close near-fall after a Chick Kick. The legend still had it. The match was a passing of the torch, showing that Flair's athletic style could mesh with the icons of the past. It ranks ninth because it felt like a self-contained exhibition rather than a storyline catalyst, even if the work rate was stellar.

8. Royal Rumble 2020: The Controversial Rumble Win

Flair won the 30-woman Royal Rumble match on January 26, 2020, entering at number 17 and lasting over 27 minutes before eliminating Shayna Baszler. The fans hated it. This victory was controversial among fans, who felt the win should have gone to Baszler to build a fresh challenger for Becky Lynch's title. Instead of targeting a main-roster championship, Flair used her contract to challenge Rhea Ripley for the NXT title. This decision makes the Rumble win rank eighth; it was a booking detour that felt designed to boost NXT's television ratings rather than elevate the Rumble's prestige.

7. WrestleMania 36: Defeating Rhea Ripley

Flair captured the NXT Women's Championship by forcing Rhea Ripley to submit to the Figure-Eight Leglock after 20 minutes and 30 seconds at WrestleMania 36 on April 5, 2020. The match took place in an empty Performance Center due to the pandemic, forcing both athletes to rely on physical storytelling that echoed in the silent arena. Ripley deserved better. Flair targeted Ripley's left leg throughout the bout, countering a Riptide into a spear for a dramatic near-fall before securing the submission. This match ranks seventh because while the ring work was exceptional, the booking decision to have Flair win halted Ripley's upward momentum.

6. WrestleMania 34: Snapping Asuka's Undefeated Streak

Flair retained the SmackDown Women's Championship by submitting Asuka with a one-handed Figure-Eight Leglock after 13 minutes at WrestleMania 34 on April 8, 2018. This victory snapped Asuka's legendary 914-day undefeated streak, a shocking result that stunned the Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd. A stunning outcome. The match featured high-impact maneuvers, including Asuka executing a suplex off the ring apron to the floor, followed by Flair hitting a Spanish Fly from the top rope. We rank this sixth because ending the streak here was a major gamble that diminished Asuka's aura for years, even if it solidified Flair as the ultimate gatekeeper.

5. Hell in a Cell 2016: The Historic Main Event

Flair defeated Sasha Banks to win the Raw Women's Championship in the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match on October 30, 2016, main eventing the pay-per-view. The match was a physical war that began before the cell descended, with Flair powerbombing Banks through the announce table, leading to a dramatic stretcher tease. While the match made history, it suffered from several sloppy spots, including a failed table break at the finish that forced Flair to win abruptly with a Natural Selection. History was made anyway. It ranks fifth because it shattered the glass ceiling for women main-eventing pay-per-views, proving that the division could handle the company's most dangerous stipulation.

4. Survivor Series 2025: Partnering with Scarlett Guillen

Outside the ring, Flair's most profound connection occurred when she partnered with eight-year-old superfan Scarlett Guillen to design her custom ring gear for Survivor Series 2025. Guillen, whose passing after a battle with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) was reported by F4WOnline, formed a tight bond with the champion during her treatment. Tragically, Guillen's family confirmed her death on social media, prompting heartfelt tributes from both Flair and LA Knight, as detailed on Ringside News. As confirmed by WrestleTalk, Flair shared emotional messages honoring the young fan's impact. It was bigger than wrestling. This partnership ranks fourth because it represents the peak of Flair's real-world influence, showing how her larger-than-life persona translates into genuine support.

3. WrestleMania 32: The Triple Threat Turning Point

Flair defeated Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 32 on April 3, 2016, to become the inaugural WWE Women's Champion, replacing the retired Divas Title. The match went 16 minutes and 3 seconds, featuring high-stakes drama, including Flair landing a spectacular moonsault from the top rope to the floor onto both opponents. The finish came when Ric Flair held Sasha Banks back, allowing Charlotte to lock Becky Lynch in the Figure-Eight for the submission victory. The modern era had arrived. This ranks third because it was the definitive turning point that forced WWE to take women's wrestling seriously, presenting them as elite athletes on the grandest stage.

2. WrestleMania 39: The Showstealer against Rhea Ripley

Flair lost the SmackDown Women's Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39 on April 1, 2023, in a match that many consider the greatest women's match in WWE history. The contest was a physical masterclass, featuring devastating German suplexes, a spear from Flair for a near-fall, and Ripley kicking out of a top-rope Natural Selection. It was an absolute masterpiece. Ripley finally secured the win after hitting a Riptide from the second rope, concluding a 23-minute battle that stole the show on night one. This ranks second because it represented the peak of Flair's in-ring execution, demonstrating her ability to elevate a rising star in a high-pressure environment.

1. WrestleMania 35: Main Eventing the Grandest Stage

Flair made history by competing in the first-ever women's WrestleMania main event on April 7, 2019, defending her SmackDown Women's Championship in a Winner Take All triple threat match against Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey. Entering the MetLife Stadium via helicopter, Flair brought a high-stakes championship aura to a historic match that drew over 80,000 fans. The match ended with a controversial roll-up by Lynch on Rousey after 21 minutes and 30 seconds, crowning Lynch as a double champion. She had reached the peak. This ranks at number one because main eventing WrestleMania is the ultimate achievement in professional wrestling, a milestone that shattered decades of industry bias.

Honorable Mentions

While not making the top ten, Flair's Last Woman Standing match against Becky Lynch at Evolution 2018 remains an incredible display of violence that barely missed the cut. Additionally, her 2022 feud with Ronda Rousey, culminating in an "I Quit" match at Backlash, showcased her ability to work a brutal style under intense pressure.