At WWE's 2021 Summerslam, Becky Lynch made a surprise return to in-ring action, defeating Bianca Belair to capture the Smackdown Women's Championship. It was Lynch's first WWE match in a little over a year.

Belair was about to face Carmella--herself a replacement for advertised challenger Sasha Banks--when Lynch's entrance music played over the speakers. Lynch hit the ring and beat up Carmella. She then challenged Belair to a title match on the spot, which Belair accepted.

Lynch offered her hand to Belair. But when Belair let down her defenses to accept it, Lynch landed a cheap shot, followed by a Man Slam, to score the pinfall. Lynch then celebrated in the ring as Belair watched from the outside.