Add as a preferred source on Google Rhea Ripley has become a major concern for WWE less than two months out from SummerSlam, which is set for August 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
On the latest SmackDown, Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore announced that the current WWE Women’s Champion is being evaluated for a knee injury suffered during the company’s stop in Italy.
Ripley last wrestled at Clash in Italy, where she defeated Jade Cargill and retained the world title.
According to WrestleVotes Radio, WWE still does not know how long Ripley will be out of action. The company is waiting to see how she responds to treatment before determining whether she will be able to compete at SummerSlam.
The issue is that if Ripley is not cleared in time, several plans involving the women’s division could change. One of the matches affected would be Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill, which had been discussed internally as one possibility.
WWE’s logic is straightforward. If Ripley is not on the show, SummerSlam would still need a WWE Women’s Championship match. That could lead to names such as Charlotte and Cargill being shifted into a title match instead.
There have also been recent reports that Jacy Jayne was considered as a possible challenger for Ripley at SummerSlam, indicating that WWE had been weighing more than one direction for the champion before the injury.
For now, Ripley remains champion, and there is no official indication that the title will be declared vacant.