Jade Cargill wanted to face THIS WWE star at WrestleMania 42 instead of Rhea Ripley
(Courtesy : WWE)
The Storm heads into WrestleMania 42 as our Women’s Champion.
Jade Cargill heads into WrestleMania 42 as the reigning WWE Women’s Champion, set to defend her title against Rhea Ripley on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
It is widely regarded as the most high-profile match of her career. But in a candid interview, Jade Cargill let it slip that Ripley was never the opponent she had in mind for wrestling’s grandest stage.
Charlotte Flair was the dream
Speaking with the Chicago Sports Network ahead of the Elimination Chamber, Jade Cargill revealed that she initially believed her WWE WrestleMania 42 opponent was going to be the 14-time Women’s World Champion, Charlotte Flair.
“To go off guard a little bit, I actually thought I was gonna take on Charlotte. So I’m really shocked to see that last Friday she didn’t qualify. It doesn’t matter, it can be Asuka, it can be Rhea, it can be Tiffany — I already beat Tiffany — it can be whomever. Like I said, it doesn’t matter because I’m gonna come out on top as the WWE Women’s Champion at WrestleMania,” Cargill said.
Then, in a separate, more recent appearance on the Complex Graps podcast, Jade elaborated even further on why Flair was her dream pick.
“One of the dream matches that I wanted to have, amongst others, was Charlotte Flair. We’ve been teasing it for so long, and I think that’s a money-making match. She’s a queen in her own right and I am as well, and I think we have such similar aesthetics sometimes — it’s more of a who’s who? Who’s really that queen? I didn’t really dream book Rhea as being the person I would’ve had my Mania match with this year,” Cargill said.
Charlotte Flair failed to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, effectively removing herself from WrestleMania title contention and forcing WWE to pivot entirely.
The teases between Cargill and Flair had been building on SmackDown for months, making a clash between the two seem inevitable. However, Charlotte failed to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, effectively removing herself from WrestleMania contention and forcing WWE to pivot.
Rhea Ripley earns her shot and fires back
Rhea Ripley punched her ticket to WrestleMania 42 by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, and it didn’t take long for the verbal exchanges to begin. Jade Cargill took to social media to refer to Ripley as the “second option,” once again noting that she expected to face Charlotte Flair.
Ripley fired back on SmackDown last week, reminding Cargill that she had previously expressed interest in facing her. Cargill brushed off the comments, while Ripley responded sharply: “All you seem to do is talk… and that’s literally it.”
Jade Cargill still confident heading into WrestleMania
Despite her initial surprise over the match, Jade Cargill has made it clear she is taking Ripley seriously, calling her “the top girl” and “the number one girl” in WWE right now but insisted she plans to leave Las Vegas still undefeated at WrestleMania and with the title still around her waist.
“I’m going to go balls to the wall. I’m going in with no regrets. Rhea has never seen someone like me. I think she’s great, but I’m better,” Cargill said.
With WrestleMania 42 just weeks away, the war of words between these two powerhouses is only getting louder and when it matters most, only one of them will be walking out of Las Vegas as champion.
Who did Jade Cargill want to face at WrestleMania 42?
Jade Cargill revealed that she originally expected to face Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 42, as the two had been involved in several on-screen confrontations and teases on SmackDown leading up to the event.
Why is Jade Cargill facing Rhea Ripley instead of Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 42?
Charlotte Flair failed to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, removing herself from WrestleMania title contention. Rhea Ripley stepped in and won the Elimination Chamber match, earning the right to challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship.
What is Jade Cargill’s WrestleMania record heading into WrestleMania 42?
Jade Cargill is undefeated at WrestleMania, holding a 2-0 record. She debuted at WrestleMania 40 in a six-woman tag match and followed it up with a singles win over Naomi at WrestleMania 41. She aims to go 3-0 at WrestleMania 42.
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Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.