The WWE SmackDown Women's Championship was introduced on the August 23, 2016 episode of "SmackDown", when "SmackDown" General Manager Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon announced the creation of the championship, a "SmackDown" women's exclusive title and announced that the inaugural champion would be determined at Backlash in a six-pack challenge between Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Naomi, Natalya, and Nikki Bella, where Becky Lynch became the inaugural champion.