Rhea Ripley sidelined with knee injury, WWE reshapes women's division

WWE champion Rhea Ripley suffered a knee injury during her title defense at Clash in Italy 2026, confirming she is medically unfit to compete. The injury, which follows a previous orbital fracture in 2024, was verified as legitimate and not a storyline development. As a result, WWE has removed Ripley from the Night of Champions promotional material and substituted her with Tiffany Stratton. Creative plans for upcoming events, including SummerSlam, remain uncertain and the company has not indicated whether Ripley will be stripped of the WWE Women's Championship.

The promotion announced the injury on SmackDown, showing Ripley in a brace and noting she was sent home for treatment. No timeline for her return has been provided, and the situation has prompted broader adjustments to the women's roster storyline.