Tag: Rhea Ripley

Rhea Ripley Ruled Out Of WWE SummerSlam, Interim Women’s Champion To Be Determined In A Ladder Match At SummerSlam

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will not be competing at SummerSlam, forcing WWE to make a major change to the championship picture heading into one of the company’s biggest events of the year.

Ahead of Friday night’s SmackDown, WWE announced that Ripley remains sidelined as she continues recovering from a torn meniscus. As a result, an interim WWE Women’s Champion will be crowned at SummerSlam in a high-stakes ladder match.

The announcement was made by WWE official Adam Pearce in a video shared on social media. While Pearce noted that Ripley has been making significant progress and is working closely with WWE’s medical team, he explained that the nature of the injury has prevented her from being medically cleared in time for the premium live event.

According to Pearce, Ripley’s return timetable remains uncertain, leading WWE to establish an interim champion until the reigning titleholder is able to return to competition.

To determine who will compete for the interim championship, WWE will hold a series of qualifying matches beginning on SmackDown and continuing over the next two weeks. Five women will earn spots in the SummerSlam ladder match, where they will battle for the right to carry the interim championship.

Pearce also confirmed that the situation will eventually be resolved when Ripley is cleared to return. At that point, the interim champion and Ripley will meet to determine the undisputed WWE Women’s Champion.

Ripley’s absence is a significant setback for WWE, as she has remained one of the company’s most prominent stars and a centerpiece of the women’s division. Despite the injury, Pearce emphasized that the champion has been working hard behind the scenes and appears to be nearing a return.

For now, though, the focus shifts to the upcoming qualifying matches and the ladder match at SummerSlam, where a new champion will be crowned while Ripley continues her recovery.

With one of WWE’s top titles now up for grabs, the race to become interim Women’s Champion is set to become one of the biggest storylines heading into SummerSlam.

Tiffany Stratton And Jade Cargill Advance To Interim Women’s Title Ladder Match At SummerSlam

Two spots in WWE’s upcoming Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match at SummerSlam have officially been filled.

During Friday night’s SmackDown, Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill secured victories in qualifying matches to earn their places in the high-profile bout that will determine an interim champion while Rhea Ripley remains sidelined with injury.

Tiffany Stratton Overcomes Chaos To Qualify

Stratton’s path to SummerSlam wasn’t without obstacles.

Before her match against Jacy Jayne even got underway, members of Fatal Influence attempted to gain an advantage by attacking Stratton. However, the situation quickly escalated when Paige and Brie Bella rushed to ringside and went after Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, leading to a wild brawl that spilled away from the ring.

Once the match officially began, Stratton quickly established control. She punished Jayne with a series of strikes and showcased her athleticism throughout the contest. After connecting with an Alabama Slam, Stratton maintained momentum despite a brief comeback from Jayne, who landed a swinging neckbreaker.

Jayne attempted to finish the match with her Rolling Encore, but Stratton countered the move and followed up with a rolling senton before delivering her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the victory.

The win officially punched Stratton’s ticket to the SummerSlam ladder match.

Jade Cargill Advances Following Charlotte Flair Interference

The second qualifier of the night featured Jade Cargill taking on Nia Jax, with plenty of drama unfolding both inside and outside the ring.

Cargill entered the match accompanied by Michin and B-Fab, but outside interference ultimately played a major role in the outcome. After an evenly contested battle that saw Jax connect with a Samoan Drop and Cargill answer with a powerful spinebuster, Charlotte Flair became involved.

Flair attacked Michin at ringside before entering the ring and striking Cargill with a dropkick. The interference immediately brought the match to an end, resulting in Cargill being awarded the victory via disqualification.

Flair’s involvement didn’t stop there. Following the bell, she grabbed a steel chair and appeared ready to continue the assault, but Michin and B-Fab stepped in to even the odds. Moments later, Nia Jax attacked Flair before leaving the ring, creating another twist in the ongoing rivalry.

With Flair laid out, Cargill capitalized by planting her with Jaded and standing tall to close the segment.

Another Qualifier Set For Next Week

Following the match, WWE official Adam Pearce addressed the situation and announced that Nia Jax will receive another opportunity to qualify for the SummerSlam ladder match. Next week, Jax will face Charlotte Flair in a new qualifying bout, with the winner advancing to the championship contest.

With Stratton and Cargill now officially qualified, the field for the Interim Women’s Championship Ladder Match is beginning to take shape. Additional qualifying matches are expected over the coming weeks as WWE builds toward SummerSlam and the crowning of a temporary titleholder during Rhea Ripley’s absence.

Rhea Ripley Reveals Knee Injury, SummerSlam Status Remains Uncertain

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has confirmed that she is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept her out of in-ring action for more than a month.

Speaking with Nina Drama during the July 10 Power Slap event, Ripley disclosed that she suffered a slight meniscus tear and is still working through the recovery process. While she noted that her knee has improved since the injury occurred, she admitted that it continues to limit her mobility.

According to Ripley, the injury has made it difficult to fully bend her knee, and certain movements still cause discomfort. She explained that the tear occurred in an unusual area, making it difficult to predict exactly how long recovery will take.

The reigning WWE Women’s Champion said she has been sidelined for approximately six weeks and is gradually regaining strength, though lingering pain and stiffness remain concerns. Ripley also noted that crouching, bending down, and moving laterally can still be challenging due to the injury.

Ripley’s most recent match took place at a WWE live event in Portugal on June 3. During that bout, she teamed with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton in a victory over Fatal Influence. Footage from the event showed Ripley competing while wearing a knee sleeve, the same protective gear fans recently noticed during her appearance on SmackDown.

Despite not wrestling in recent weeks, Ripley has remained a prominent figure on WWE programming. Her latest appearance saw her confront several potential challengers, signaling that the women’s championship scene continues to revolve around her even while she recovers.

With SummerSlam now just weeks away, Ripley’s condition has become a major topic of discussion. Previous reports suggested WWE had already begun considering creative alternatives in case the champion’s recovery timeline extends longer than expected.

At this stage, WWE has not officially announced whether Ripley will be cleared to compete at the two-night premium live event. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether “Mami” can return to action in time for one of WWE’s biggest shows of the year.

As Ripley continues her rehabilitation, the status of the WWE Women’s Championship picture heading into SummerSlam remains one of the company’s biggest question marks.

Report: Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley’s Social Media Clash Wasn’t a WWE Work

What initially looked like clever WrestleMania hype may not have been part of the script after all.

Over the past few days, Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley have been trading sharp words on social media, with several members of the WWE women’s division jumping into the fray. Given the timing — with the two seemingly on a collision course for WrestleMania — many fans assumed the back-and-forth was a coordinated effort to stir up buzz for a high-profile showdown.

But according to a new report from PWInsider Elite, the heated exchange was not something orchestrated by WWE creative.

Instead, sources claim the tension between Cargill and Ripley was legitimate. The report indicates that many within WWE believe Cargill was responsible for escalating the situation, particularly after she implied that Ripley had a cozy relationship with members of WWE’s creative team. That accusation reportedly didn’t sit well backstage.

Ripley responded publicly, posting on Instagram that Cargill should “learn how to work” before eventually deleting the message. The implication behind Cargill’s comments — that Ripley benefits from favoritism — was said to rub several people the wrong way, with some internally describing it as crossing a line into personal territory rather than keeping things storyline-focused.

Interestingly, Cargill’s online critics weren’t limited to Ripley. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven also weighed in, leading to speculation that the situation may reflect deeper locker room tensions. The report notes that Cargill has been viewed as a somewhat polarizing presence within the women’s division, with whispers of prior friction surfacing in the background.

Some sources suggested that Cargill has not always reciprocated the respect shown to her by peers who have publicly supported or elevated her. Others characterized her demeanor as coming off insecure at times — though those closer to Cargill have reportedly dismissed the entire situation as nothing more than competitive personalities clashing in a high-pressure environment.

Regardless of where the truth lies, there appears to be agreement on one point: WWE management is expected to address the matter directly, especially with WrestleMania season in full swing. The last thing the company needs is legitimate backstage friction overshadowing a marquee match.

All eyes now shift to this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, where Ripley is scheduled to appear and begin the official on-screen build toward her anticipated WrestleMania encounter with Cargill. Whether the real-life tension bleeds into the storyline — or gets smoothed over behind closed doors — remains to be seen.

Backstage Update On Rhea Ripley Injury Angle From WWE NXT

Former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley was attacked by Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on Tuesday. Ripley left bloodied next to her car by an unseen attack after visiting the “NXT” locker room to give the women’s roster words of support. It appears the attack was a way of writing Ripley off television while she deals with a legitimate injury.

“[Rhea has] got a fractured orbital bone,” Dave Meltzer said on “Wrestling Observer Radio” recently. “So the injury they announced is pretty much legit. It happened last week…Probably the last TV thing because she didn’t work any house shows.”

Meltzer believes it was the confrontation and physicality with Rodriguez on the October 21 “Raw” that injured Ripley. There is no timetable on Ripley’s return but Meltzer doesn’t sound optimistic about the chance at a speedy recovery.

“She is going to be out for a while,” Meltzer said. “It happened last week and then they did [the NXT attack] as a cover.”

The injury is Ripley’s second major injury of the year; Ripley was forced to vacate the WWE Women’s World Championship earlier this year after suffering a shoulder injury. She’s has been embroiled in her feud with Morgan, not only because of Morgan’s budding relationship with Rhea’s former beau “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, but also to get back the very title she never lost. As it stands, it will be a while before Ripley can pick up where she left off with her historic 380-day title run.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Gives Injury Update On Rhea Ripley, Ripley Rumored To Be Legitimately Injured

As seen on Tuesday night’s episode of WWE NXT, former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley was attacked by Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in the parking lot.

WWE announced Ripley suffered a fractured right orbital socket and will be out of action for an undisclosed amount of time.

Additionally, the following statement was issued via WWE.com:

Last night on NXT, Rhea Ripley was heinously attacked in the parking lot by Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan and her enforcer Raquel Rodriguez.

Following the brutal attack, it has been revealed that The Nightmare has suffered a fractured right orbital socket, which will put Ripley out of action for an undisclosed amount of time.

Make sure to follow all WWE social media platforms as this story develops.

Fightful Select adds, “Internal claims are that this is a legitimate injury and the X-ray is the real deal.”

Rhea Ripley Returns To WWE NXT, Gets Attacked In Parking Lot

Rhea Ripley returned to “WWE NXT” but it didn’t end well for the former Women’s Champion, falling victim to a seeming ambush from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in the parking lot. Ripley returned to her old stomping grounds as a backstage guest this week, giving the newly announced dream team of Zaria, Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer, Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace some encouragement ahead of their 10-women tag bout against Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade, and Fatal Influence next week. 

A later segment revealed Ripley to have been bloodied in the parking lot, the camera picking up a departing and laughing Morgan and Rodriguez – the former holding a bat – before finding Ripley lying beside her car partially shut in the door. A shocked and confused Vic Joseph and Booker T, meanwhile, assured fans on broadcast that they would follow up with an update. Ripley and Morgan have been feuding over the WWE Women’s World Championship – and Dominik Mysterio – on “WWE Raw” over the past couple of months, with Rodriguez providing a vital assist in their latest title bout. With the attack tonight, it’s unknown if Ripley may be out until after Morgan has had her Champion vs. Champion match with Nia Jax at WWE Crown Jewel this weekend, but it’s clear their feud is far from over. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rhea Ripley Returns On WWE Raw, Confronts Dominik Mysterio While Liv Morgan Flees

Former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley returned to “WWE Raw” on Monday following Dominik Mysterio and champion Liv Morgan’s mixed tag team victory over the LWO’s Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega. Ripley had been out of action due to injury at the hands of Morgan, and was forced to vacate her championship. Prior to Ripley’s departure, Morgan declared her “Revenge Tour,” and after she won the championship from Becky Lynch at Crown Jewel, she set her sights on Ripley’s boyfriend, Dominik. Earlier in the night, Judgment Day’s Damian Priest was seen backstage taking a phone call, and asked whoever was on the line (presumably Ripley) where they were, foreshadowing her return to TV.

Dominik was initially reluctant to team with Morgan, who once again got him into compromising positions through the show, but they managed to pick up the win after Morgan threw a chair in the ring to distract the referee, then helped Dominik knock Rey from the top rope, allowing Dominik to hit the frog splash and get the pin, his first victory over his father. Dominik impulsively hugged Morgan in the ring before pushing the women’s champion away, but Morgan jumped into his arms, knocking them both down with Dominik on top. At long last, Dominik seemed about to give in to Morgan’s seduction efforts — which was when Ripley’s music hit, causing both Dominik and Morgan to go wide-eyed with terror.

Ripley stormed down the ramp while Morgan scurried off through the crowd, leaving Dominik in the ring to face “Mami.” The USA Network feed cut off before the segment could be resolved, but footage from after the cameras went dark show Ripley speaking angrily to Dominik before storming right back out of the ring and up the ramp, while a hapless Dominik attempts to follow her and explain himself. Interestingly, a video posted to WWE’s social media afterward shows Morgan watching the confrontation from behind the curtain before turning away with a smile on her face.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Star Rhea Ripley Marries AEW’s Buddy Matthews

WWE star Rhea Ripley and AEW star Buddy Matthews have announced that they have gotten married.

Ripley posted a photo of the two kissing on social media, revealing that the couple got married on June 23, 2024. “Til death. 🖤 23.06.24,” said Ripley’s comment along with the photo.

The Australian couple started dating in 2022 and got engaged last year. A recent report revealed that Matthews was written off AEW television on the June 15 edition of “AEW Collision” so that he could return back to Australia to spend time with his family. On the show, Matthews was attacked backstage by The Patriarchy to write him off television.

Ripley recently discussed her relationship with Matthews, stating that the couple are happy about each others’ success in their respective pro wrestling companies. She added that Matthews isn’t threatened by her top position in WWE and that the AEW star is comfortable with what she’s doing. Ripley has been sidelined from WWE since April and had to relinquish her WWE Women’s World Championship after suffering a legitimate shoulder injury. As per a recent report, The Judgment Day member could potentially return to WWE at SummerSlam, which is set to take place on August 3.

Following her hiatus from WWE, Ripley’s on-screen partner, Dominik Mysterio, has been in an ongoing romantic storyline with Liv Morgan, the current Women’s World Champion, who was also the reason for Ripley’s injury.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Update On Rhea Ripley’s Status

On the April 8th episode of WWE RAW, Liv Morgan attacked Rhea Ripley in a backstage segment which resulted in Ripley suffering a legitimate shoulder injury. She later relinquished the Women’s World Title and was written off WWE television, with an expected return timeframe of around four months.

According to a report from Fightful Select, Ripley has opted to undergo shoulder rehabilitation instead of surgery. Due to this, she may not make it back as early as expected.

With that being said, several preparations have been made so Ripley can return whenever she’s needed. It’s also possible that she could return in a non-wrestling capacity if creative decides to go that route.

While Ripley is expected to continue feuding with Liv Morgan when she returns, the specific story available at the time of her return will determine her creative direction.

Finally, it was added that the hope is that she will make an on-screen appearance in some capacity before SummerSlam 2024.

Source: eWn

Backstage Update On Former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley’s Injury

While the company is still riding a wave of momentum from WWE WrestleMania 40, last night’s “WWE Raw” opened with Rhea Ripley making the unfortunate announcement that she was vacating the Women’s World Championship due to injury. Many speculated that the injury came about during last week’s angle with Liv Morgan, with the latest “Wrestling Observer Radio” offering some insight into what may have occurred.

“She suffered [an] AC joint sprain in the brawl with Liv Morgan last week on ‘Raw,'” Bryan Alvarez said. “She was thrown into the wall and boom — there goes the shoulder. An injury like that, [it will take] probably four to six weeks to gain mobility and then usually about three months to be back in action.”

Alvarez and co-host Dave Meltzer interpreted last night’s segment as a double-turn, with Morgan becoming a heel while Ripley was turned into a babyface due to the circumstances. It’s not clear if this was the definitive intent of the segment, but it’s undeniable that the crowd was behind Ripley last night and keeping her as a villain upon her return would likely be a difficult task.

“She suffered [an] AC joint sprain in the brawl with Liv Morgan last week on ‘Raw,'” Bryan Alvarez said. “She was thrown into the wall and boom — there goes the shoulder. An injury like that, [it will take] probably four to six weeks to gain mobility and then usually about three months to be back in action.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.