WWE ends first time ever title match in a time limit draw

The WWE Universe is often treated to dream matches, first-time-ever bouts, and once-in-a-lifetime main events that happen twice. Two veterans recently clashed for the first time in a high-stakes bout, and the finish was another first time ever. Fallout is now going down after the result surprised many.

Candice LeRae has now been the inaugural WWE Women's Speed Champion for three months. The veteran grappler defeated Piper Niven in the fall tournament opener, beat Kairi Sane in the semi-finals, and IYO SKY in the championship finals. Natalya began the tournament to determine LeRae's first challenger with a win over B-Fab. She also defeated the latter in the semi-finals due to Zelina Vega's injury and became the new number-one contender by beating Michin in the finals.

The Poison Pixie and The Queen of Harts worked their first-ever match on today's championship edition of WWE Speed. The bout ended in the first-ever Speed time limit draw as the five-minute clock ran out with no winner, which caused LeRae to retain. The aggressive contest went out of the ring and back in, and the clock ran out while the champion was locked in a second Sharpshooter.

Despite their lengthy careers, today marked the first-ever singles bout between the third-generation superstar and the one-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion. Natalya and LeRae have worked eight multi-woman matches since 2019, but this was their first one-on-one encounter.

Candice LeRae comments on future as WWE Speed champion

Candice LeRae's reign as the inaugural WWE Women's Speed Champion is now past the three-month mark. The California native defeated Natalya, her first challenger, today in a time-limit draw of five minutes.

After her big win on Speed, a WWE cameraman stopped LeRae, but she had an interesting reaction when it was mentioned that she retained in the first time limit draw on the new show. Johnny Gargano's wife then taunted her latest in-ring victim.

"This isn't... no, no, no. A draw... excuse you? You said this was a draw? No, I won. There was no draw. You have to beat me in the appropriate amount of time, and guess what, Nattie? You didn't beat me, therefore I am still, and will always be, your Speed Women's Champion," Candice LeRae said.

LeRae continues to be a top heel on SmackDown, last teaming with Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton for a loss to Bayley, Naomi, and Bianca Belair on the final episode of 2024. Natalya's last non-Speed match was a win over Isla Dawn on the final Main Event episode of the year.