Plenty of women in the WWE have won a Women's Championship as a heel and face. However, some champions had better reigns a heel, whilst some struggled as a face champion.

WWE has seen a transition of the Women's Division over the years. From the Attitude Era to the Women's Revolution, women's wrestling has evolved considerably. Plenty of female Superstars have left a lasting legacy as a champion for those to follow in their footsteps.

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The likes of Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch have won Women's Championships in both roles as a hero and a villain. Some thrived as a face champion for sure but still did a good job as a heel. Without further ado, let's revisit some of the Women's Champions who did better as a face and vice versa.

10 Face: Melina

Melina is a three-time WWE Women's Champion

Melina joined the main roster of the WWE as a heel and valet to Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury as part of MNM. The trio had great success over on SmackDown in 2005. However, once Melina joined Monday Night Raw she enhanced her skills immensely in the ring.

Melina won the WWE Women's Championship three times and the Divas Championship twice. Her third Women's title reign in 2009 was exceptional as a face. Her rivalries with Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool were some of the best work in her career. Melina had one of the best entrances as she would do the splits on the ring apron. Unfortunately, injuries would plague Melina but she did more as Women's Champion when she was a face than a heel.

9 Heel: Michelle McCool

Michelle McCool was the first-ever Women's and Divas Champion

No one can take away from Michelle McCool that she is the first person in history to win both the WWE Women's and Divas Championships. McCool is a four-time Women's Champion overall, winning both titles twice apiece. Despite having a lengthy reign as the inaugural Divas Champion in 2008 as a face, McCool is remembered for her time as a heel.

McCool formed an alliance with Layla as LayCool, which took her to the next level. Already possessing in-ring pedigree, McCool improved on the mic and had some of the best feuds in Smackdown history. McCool had high-profile championship matches with Melina in 2009 and 2010 and was "Simply Flawless" with Layla by her side.

8 Face: Victoria

Victoria is a two-time WWE Women's Champion defeating Trish Stratus and Molly Holly for her title reigns

One of the most underrated female performers in WWE history is Victoria. Victoria was originally one of The Godfather's ho's in 2000. The former fitness model transitioned into a fine in-ring wrestler. She could mix it up with the very best in 2002. Victoria quickly defeated Trish Stratus in a classic hardcore match to win her first Women's Championship at Survivor Series.

However, Victoria's second reign with the gold in 2004 was even better. Fans warmed to Victoria which is why she turned face. At WrestleMania XX, Victoria successfully defended the title against Molly Holly, which saw Molly go bald. She backed it up with another stellar performance at Backlash with Lita, in one of the best Women's championship matches in that era. Victoria's four-month reign came to an end by her rival Trish Stratus at Bad Blood with the roles reversed.

7 Heel: Bayley

Bayley won the Smackdown Women's Championship twice

Turning heel is one of the best things that happened to Bayley's WWE career. Bayley had an underwhelming run as Raw Women's Champion in 2017 as a babyface. Although she did manage to retain the title at WrestleMania 33, she didn't hold onto the gold for long. Her hugger character had grown stale, and a change was needed.

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Bayley's run as a heel has been refreshing, and she is currently the longest-reigning and two-time SmackDown Women's Champion. She has held the gold for a combined 494+ days and counting in total. Her current reign is an astonishing 354+ days closing in as a full calendar year as champion. Bayley has brought prestige to the title, giving it the credibility it desperately needed.

6 Face: Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks has had poor Raw Women's Championship reigns

The Boss is one of the worst Women's Champions in WWE history, which is surprising considering Sasha Banks has held the Raw Women's Championship a record five times. That is a good achievement but the length of the reigns are a disaster. The Boss has held the title cumulatively for 106 days and has never successfully defended the title.

Banks is one of the most talented women in the WWE, despite her Raw Women's Championship reigns being dire, she had great matches as a face with Charlotte Flair. Furthermore, Banks is currently in a feud with former partner and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley. Hopefully, for Banks' sake, she gets a meaningful title reign, which she thoroughly deserves.

5 Heel: Beth Phoenix

Beth Phoenix is one of the greatest Women's champions of all time

Beth Phoenix dominated the latter half of the 2000s as WWE Women's Champion. The Glamazon brought instant credibility to the Women's Championship with her strength and beauty. Phoenix defeated Candice Michelle at No Mercy 2007 to win her first of three WWE Women's Championships.

Phoenix was a dominant heel and her power was rarely seen in women's wrestling. Her feud with Mickie James in 2008 was one of the best women's rivalries of all time. Furthermore, The Glamazon earned the 2008 Diva of the Year Slammy Award for her efforts. Phoenix's third reign in 2010 was brief but as a face, which did not suit her at all. Before she departed from the WWE, Phoenix won the Divas Championship in 2011, which lasted six months back in her heel role.

4 Face: Mickie James

Mickie James won the Women's title five times

Starting as a Trish Stratus wannabe, Mickie James has proven to be a good Women's Champion. The veteran is a five-time WWE Women's Champion and one-time Divas Champion. She became the second person after Michelle McCool to achieve the feat of holding reigns with both the Women's and Divas Champion.

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James had an outstanding rivalry with Stratus which pushed boundaries. She turned heel before WrestleMania 22, however, it did not last long as she feuded with Lita over the Women's Championship. James simply does not get recognized enough for the work she has done over the years but she is certainly a better Women's Champion as a face. One of her best matches in the WWE was in 2008 when she defeated Beth Phoenix in a classic encounter in London to claim her fourth Women's Championship.

3 Heel: Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair is one of the best Women's Champions in WWE history

Charlotte Flair is one of the all-time greats Superstars to grace a WWE ring. Charlotte is the daughter of Ric Flair, which is why she is criticized by many to get things handed to her. It could not be further from the truth as The Queen has proven time and time again, that she can be relied on, and can mix it up with anyone in the ring.

Flair is a record-setting 12-time Women's Champion in the WWE. Along with Sasha Banks, they were the first to main event a pay-per-view at Hell in a Cell in 2016. Fans grew sick and tired of Charlotte winning championship after championship. Nevertheless, Flair as a heel champion has been great, and her rivalries with Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Ronda Rousey in later years have revolutionized women's wrestling.

2 Face: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch had a great reign as Raw Women's Champion

Just like Bayley, Becky Lynch benefitted from a heel turn on SmackDown in 2018. Fans knew that Lynch was a credible worker but did not get the chance like Charlotte or Sasha Banks to shine. Lynch's character as "The Man" was reminiscent of the early days of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Lynch's mic skills improved drastically, and she was the best thing on WWE television from late 2018 over the next year. Lynch made history at WrestleMania 35 with Charlotte and Ronda Rousey, as the first women to main event WrestleMania. It was a brilliant performance from Lynch, who defeated Charlotte and Rousey to win both Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships. Lynch turned face and carried Raw as a champion for an impressive 373 days. Her historic reign ended when she announced she was pregnant in spring 2020.

1 Heel: Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus won seven Women's Championships in her career

Trish Stratus is arguably the greatest women's wrestler in WWE history. Stratus is a seven-time WWE Women's Champion. Although she was notable as a face, Trish turned heel in 2004. Stratus' heel turn has done her wonders as she had memorable matches with her rival Lita.

The two main-evented Raw in December 2004 in one of the greatest women's matches in history. Trish won her fifth and sixth Women's Championships as a heel from rivals Victoria and Lita respectively. Nevertheless, Stratus did a fantastic job as a heel WWE Women's Champion with amazing matches with her rivals.

NEXT: 10 Things About Trish Stratus That Would Never Fly Today