WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley possible recovery time revealed after meniscus injury update
(Courtesy : WWE)
Rhea Ripley shares encouraging update on her torn meniscus, but her WWE return remains uncertain
WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has provided the clearest update yet on the knee injury that has kept her sidelined in recent weeks, offering fans fresh insight into her recovery while leaving her return date uncertain.
Ripley has not competed since a WWE live event in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 3. Shortly after suffering the injury, WWE announced on SmackDown that she would be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, although few updates followed in the weeks leading to SummerSlam.
Now, speaking during an appearance at Power Slap, Ripley confirmed the exact nature of the injury and explained why her recovery has taken longer than expected.
Rhea Ripley confirms she suffered a slight meniscus tear
During an interview with Nina Drama, Ripley revealed that she suffered a slight tear in her meniscus.
“I hurt my knee. I got a slight tear in my meniscus. It’s healing. It’s getting there. It’s getting stronger. I can’t bend it very well, though. I kinda need it to bend, guys.”
The injury forced WWE to adjust several creative plans.
Ripley was removed from promotional material for Night of Champions and replaced by Tiffany Stratton, who ultimately defended the WWE Women’s United States Championship against Jade Cargill at the event.
According to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, Ripley’s injury also resulted in significant creative changes affecting both her own storyline and WWE SmackDown’s women’s division.
Despite the setback, Ripley’s latest comments suggest she is making gradual progress.
When could Rhea Ripley return to WWE?
Ripley admitted that even doctors cannot accurately predict her recovery because of where the tear occurred.
“I don’t know. I tore it in a really weird spot. So it’s kind of a little bit up in the air with just how fast my body recovers.”
She added that she has already noticed improvement but continues to experience pain during everyday movement.
“I’ve been out for just over a month now. It feels better. It still starts to hurt and throb. It gets tired. 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.”
Based on Ripley’s description, there is still no confirmed timetable for her WWE return.
From a medical standpoint, a slight meniscus tear can often take anywhere from six to twelve weeks to heal without surgery, depending on the location of the tear, treatment plan and the individual’s recovery. Because Ripley said the tear is in an unusual spot and she still has difficulty bending her knee, it would be reasonable to speculate that she could need several more weeks before being medically cleared.
That means a return around late August or sometime in September 2026 remains a realistic possibility, assuming her rehabilitation continues without setbacks. However, this is only an estimate based on her comments and typical recovery timelines—not any official report.
For now, Ripley continues working toward recovery while WWE waits for one of its biggest stars to return. Whether that comeback happens shortly after SummerSlam or later in the year will ultimately depend on how her knee responds over the coming weeks.
What injury does Rhea Ripley have?
Rhea Ripley revealed that she suffered a slight tear in her meniscus, which has kept her out of action since early June.
When could Rhea Ripley return to WWE?
There is no official timetable. Based on her comments and general recovery timelines for a slight meniscus tear, a return in late August or September 2026 is a reasonable estimate, though it remains speculative.
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