On the December 20, 2016, episode of SmackDown Live, the La Luchadora character was introduced during a match against the SmackDown Women's Champion Alexa Bliss in which Bliss was defeated.[1] After the match, it was revealed that Becky Lynch was under La Luchadora persona.[2] On the December 27 episode of SmackDown Live, La Luchadora, this time being portrayed by independent wrestler Deonna Purrazzo, returned as a villainess during a match for the SmackDown Women's Championship between Bliss and Lynch, distracting and attacking Lynch and subsequently costing her the match.[3]