Add as a preferred source on Google Rhea Ripley will not defend the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
In a video released ahead of this Friday’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Adam Pearce confirmed that the champion has not yet received medical clearance to compete.
As a result, WWE will hold a five-woman Ladder Match to crown an interim champion, with the participants determined through qualifying matches.
Pearce made a point of clarifying that Ripley will not be stripped of the title. When the Australian returns to the ring, she will face the winner of the Ladder Match to determine who becomes the sole WWE Women’s Champion.
Rhea has been out of action since early June due to a knee injury suffered during WWE’s European tour. On July 10, during an appearance at a Power Slap event, she revealed that she suffered a small tear in her meniscus and admitted there is still no timetable for her return.
“I don’t know. I tore it in a really weird spot. It’s kind of a little up in the air with how fast my body recovers. I’ve been out just over a month now. It feels better and starts to throb. I can’t get up or bend down really slow or kind of move side to side while crouching. We’ll see how it goes.”
Rhea won the title by defeating Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 and retained the belt in the rematch at Clash in Italy.