Original plans for Rhea Ripley at WWE SummerSlam 2026 reportedly revealed amid absence due to injury
(Courtesy : WWE.com)
The Women’s Champion is out of action due to injury.
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley’s knee injury has kept her out of action since Clash in Italy, where she defeated Jade Cargill in a rematch to retain the title. Following the title defense, Ripley appeared during the fallout edition of SmackDown in Bologna, Italy, to reveal that she is dealing with a right knee injury.
Since then, Ripley has been absent from WWE programming and was taken off from advertising graphic for Night of Champions and was replaced by Tiffany Stratton, who ended up defending the Women’s US title at the PLE.
Now, as SummerSlam approaches, fans are wondering if Rhea will be able to return in time to defend the title or will have to relinquish the title.
Rhea Ripley could have faced Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne at SummerSlam
According to a report from Fightful Select prior to her injury, Rhea Ripley was set to defend the WWE Women’s title against either Jacy Jayne or Alexa Bliss
On the other hand, according to Dave Meltzer of WON, Ripley has been undergoing medical evaluation after reportedly suffering a knee injury during WWE’s recent tour of Italy.
Before the injury, WWE’s planned SummerSlam card reportedly included the following matches:
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs CM Punk for the WWE Championship
- Roman Reigns (c) vs Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship
- Liv Morgan (c) vs Iyo Sky for the Women’s World Championship
- Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell
- Charlotte Flair vs Jade Cargill
- Trick Williams (c) vs Carmelo Hayes for the United States Championship
- Gunther vs Royce Keys
- Paige & Brie Bella (c) vs Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
According to Meltzer, Ripley’s injury did not change WWE’s plans for the Women’s World Championship scene, as Iyo Sky winning the Queen of the Ring tournament and challenging Liv Morgan at SummerSlam had reportedly been the plan all along.
Meltzer also noted that Ripley has not been stripped of the Women’s World title and added that if she were expected to miss an extended period or require major surgery, WWE would typically vacate the title.
What were the original plans for Rhea Ripley at SummerSlam 2026?
Per Fightful, prior to her injury, Rhea Ripley was set to defend the WWE Women’s title against either Jacy Jayne or Alexa Bliss
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.