WWE News: Charlotte Flair wins SmackDown Women's Championship; to face Alexa Bliss at Survivor Series

Charlotte Flair defeated Natalya to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live.

The match was mostly a back and forth effort. Natalya hit Flair with a powerbomb to the turnbuckle post outside and locked on the Sharpshooter in the match, but Flair managed to counter, knock Natalya to the outside, land a big boot and lock in the Figure 8 Submission to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship for the first time.

Charlotte honoured her father with her victory tonight and was greeted by Ric Flair who made an appearance on WWE programming for the first time since being hospitalised.

WOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Who better to congratulate NEW #SDLive #WomensChampion @MsCharlotteWWE...than her father @RicFlairNatrBoy?! pic.twitter.com/mamS9lsTvQ

— WWE (@WWE) November 15, 2017

With her win tonight, Charlotte will go on to face the Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in a battle between the first two women to hold both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships.

I’m Thankful For Every Moment I? Can Spend With My Queen!! Congratulations My Angel ? pic.twitter.com/dRMDSazuRQ

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 15, 2017

Bliss first captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship back in 2016 after beating Becky Lynch at the TLC pay-per-view and went on to win the Raw Women’s Championship by defeating Bayley at Payback earlier this year.

Charlotte was the inaugural Raw Women’s Champion after winning the title at WrestleMania 32 by defeating Lynch and Sasha Banks in a triple threat match.