Rhea Ripley’s first WWE appearance announced amid ongoing absence due to injury

Rhea Ripley has been absent from programming since June 2026.

There are many rumors in the WWE about the possibility of the return of several stars such as Drew McIntyre and Enzo Amore. One more name will be added to this list as Rhea Ripley could make her appearance in the upcoming WWE show.

As per the announcement, the former Women’s Champion will take part in a pre-show hospitality event at WrestlePalooza in Perth. The Australian wrestler was out of action for almost five months because of the knee injury. 

Rhea Ripley to appear at WWE WrestlePalooza in Perth

The hospitality partner of WWE, On Location, has revealed that the Australian star wrestler will take part in the exclusive hospitality event before WrestlePalooza. Another megastar wrestler from Australia, Bronson Reed, will be taking part in the premium live event scheduled for December 12, 2026, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

However, Mami’s confirmed involvement is limited to the pre-show hospitality event. The promotion has not announced that she will compete at WrestlePalooza or appear during the televised broadcast. Her presence will give fans a reason to look forward to the December event in Australia.

For Ripley, who hails from Australia, the event could provide a welcome opportunity to reconnect with fans in her home country. Whether she will be able to return to television before December remains uncertain.

Rhea Ripley’s injury update

The Eradicator had stayed away from any sort of in-ring activity due to sustaining a tear in her knee. The injury was sustained when she defended her title against Jade Cargill in the Clash in Italy show on May 31, 2026. She later underwent successful right knee surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus.

In September, Ripley clarified rumours about her return after posting a video of herself walking. She urged the fans not to get carried away with her newfound abilities and consider them as signs of getting ready to wrestle, noting that walking and wrestling involve very different levels of physical work.

This statement made it clear that recovery process goes beyond walking as wrestling involves bursts of speed, changes of direction and jumps.

However, her return in December has led to speculation that she may be considering a comeback to the ring in the near future. But her return date is still unknown.

Her participation in WrestlePalooza hospitality should therefore be treated separately from her competitive status. WWE could provide another update before December, but no announcement has confirmed that she will wrestle at the event.

For now, fans can look forward to the possibility of seeing Ripley in person in Perth, while continuing to wait for news about her recovery. A return to the ring will depend on her fitness and medical clearance, rather than simply the date of her next advertised appearance.

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