Ripley Injury Rocks WWE.
Rhea Ripley Knee Injury Forces Night of Champions Removal, Major WWE Plans in Flux.
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Key Points
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WWE’s updated Night of Champions poster change followed remarks from SmackDown commentators Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore, who said Rhea Ripley was dealing with a knee injury—adding support to the idea she won’t appear in Saudi Arabia.
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If Tiffany Stratton ends up defending the Women’s United States Championship at Night of Champions, it would be the title’s first defense on a premium live event since the championship was introduced in December 2024.
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Night of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, streaming live on the ESPN App in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.
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Reports indicate WWE’s internal expectations on Ripley’s recovery vary widely: a non-surgical issue such as a meniscus strain could allow a return by SummerSlam, while an injury requiring surgery could keep her out “up to a year”—and that longer timeline is part of why WWE is considering stripping/relinquishment options.
WWE has pulled Rhea Ripley from its Night of Champions promotional poster and replaced her with Tiffany Stratton, signaling the Women's Champion is unlikely to compete at the June 27 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. eWrestling reported the poster update on June 16, one day after internal sources revealed a wide range of medical timelines for Ripley's knee injury — from four weeks to a full year out.
Ripley first appeared in a knee brace during WWE's European tour in early June. On the June 12 SmackDown, she was seen visibly limping. Commentators Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett confirmed she was under medical evaluation, with Barrett noting, "The ETA depends entirely on how that knee responds to treatment."
Tiffany Stratton Steps Up as Ripley's Replacement
Stratton holds the Women's United States Championship, a title introduced in December 2024 that has never been defended on a premium live event. Her placement on the Night of Champions poster strongly hints that will change on June 27. Diva-Dirt reported that commentary has also suggested Jade Cargill is eyeing Stratton's title, making a Cargill vs. Stratton match the most likely pivot for the Saudi Arabia show.
Night of Champions streams live on the ESPN App in the United States and on Netflix internationally. The event is part of a 10-year, $1 billion deal between WWE's parent company TKO Group and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. Each Saudi show generates an estimated $50 million in direct revenue for WWE, making Ripley's absence a significant star-power problem for the company.
Injury Timeline Ranges From Weeks to Twelve Months
Internal reports from WrestleVotes and Fightful Select describe a "wide variance" in Ripley's prognosis. A minor meniscus strain could allow her to return in time for SummerSlam on August 1–2 in Minneapolis. But if the injury requires surgery, she could miss up to a year. Wrestling Noticias noted that the longer timeline is why WWE is already discussing whether Ripley should relinquish the Women's Championship.
This would not be the first time Ripley has vacated a title due to injury. She previously gave up the Women's World Championship in 2024 after a shoulder injury. At just 29 years old, she has also suffered a broken orbital bone, a broken nose, and chronic back issues over the last two years. Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer said, "If the injury is a meniscus tear requiring surgery, WWE has almost no choice but to strip her."
SummerSlam Plans in Minneapolis Face Major Rewrite
Ripley was the centerpiece of WWE's summer marketing push. She was expected to headline the first-ever two-night SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium, which holds 73,000 fans. Ticket tracking site WrestleTix reports that sales are "at risk of slowing" if Ripley is removed from promotional materials. A planned "Dream Match" between Jade Cargill and Charlotte Flair may also be scrapped to move one of them into the vacant title picture.
Jacy Jayne, leader of the Fatal Influence stable, was reportedly penciled in as Ripley's SummerSlam challenger before the injury. Fatal Influence — which also includes Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid — was called up to the main roster on April 24 specifically to build fresh opponents for Ripley. Without her, that storyline now has no clear direction. Diva-Dirt noted WWE's creative team is described as "scrambling" to adjust three months of planned television.
Fans Raise Concerns Over WWE's Grueling Star Schedule
Ripley's string of injuries has sparked a broader conversation about WWE's workload for its top talent. Fans on Reddit's r/SquaredCircle have pointed to her history of serious injuries as a sign of physical burnout. Critics argue the schedule WWE runs for stars like Ripley — including international tours, weekly TV tapings, and monthly premium live events — is not sustainable long-term.
For now, WWE is framing the situation as an ongoing "medical evaluation" to keep fans tuning into SmackDown for updates. Newsy Today reported that Ripley is being assessed on a week-to-week basis. The next SmackDown episode is expected to bring more clarity on both her status and what Night of Champions will look like without its biggest women's star.
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