Backstage Update on Initial SummerSlam Plans For Rhea Ripley Before Her Injury

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is currently out of action due to an injury. The Eradicator defeated Jade Cargill to capture the Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42. She retained the title in a rematch at Clash in Italy on May 31.

However, Ripley didn’t come out unscathed from the match, as she suffered a knee injury and has since been away from in-ring action. With SummerSlam 2026 less than a month away and Queen of the Ring winner IYO SKY choosing Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan as her opponent at The Biggest Party of the Summer, there is uncertainty about who Rhea will face, if at all, in Minneapolis next month.

In the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Dave Meltzer reported that before she got injured, the plan was to have Rhea defend her title against either Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne at SummerSlam 2026.

Ripley kicked off a feud with Fatal Influence immediately following WrestleMania 42. She defeated Jayne via DQ on the April 24 episode of WWE SmackDown. She also teamed up with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to take on Fatal Influence and then the trio of Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin at Saturday Night’s Main Event in May.