Rhea Ripley’s Knee Injury Reportedly Caused Multiple WWE Creative Plans Changes

As noted before, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has been out of action for WWE since this past May’s Clash In Italy event due to a knee injury. Ripley was recently replaced with WWE Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton for WWE’s official poster for this month’s Night of Champions 2026 event in Saudi Arabia.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials have made significant changes and shuffling of their plans for SmackDown’s Women’s division heading into Night of Champions 2026 due to Ripley’s knee injury situation.

WWE officials reportedly are currently under the expectation that Ripley will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time and made several adjustments in their creative plans as a result.

It was not stated if WWE officials are currently considering vacating Ripley’s WWE Women’s Championship nor their current plans for the title.