In a landmark moment for professional wrestling, Kylie Rae was crowned the inaugural WWE ID Women’s Champion on August 1, 2025. The historic victory took place at the “ID Showcase,” an event presented by Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as part of WWE’s SummerSlam weekend festivities.
The championship was decided in a competitive triple threat match featuring Rae, Zayda Steel, and Zara Zakher. The final sequence saw Rae lock Steel in a crossface submission. Zakher’s attempt to intervene was a moment too late, forcing Steel to tap out and securing the title for Rae. After the bell, Rae’s look of shock quickly transformed into her signature beaming smile as the crowd celebrated the result.
This victory cements Rae’s place within WWE’s new Independent Development (ID) program, an initiative launched in February 2025 to create a bridge between the company and the independent wrestling circuit. Rae, already a regular on WWE EVOLVE, now leads a division with a unique stipulation: the championship is open to all independent talents.
The title’s rules state that should a wrestler not currently under a WWE ID contract win the championship, they will automatically earn one. This structure, which saw tournament qualifiers held during WrestleMania 41 week, opens the door for a wave of new challengers from across the wrestling landscape to compete for both the title and a career-altering opportunity.
Kylie Rae submits Zayda Steel to become the first-ever WWE ID Women’s Champion 🏆 @IamKylieRae#GCWID #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/PnYzbCg4y0
— Stone Cold Harbor 👊🩸 (@StoneColdHarbor) August 1, 2025