Rhea Ripley Denies Rumors About Her Slimming Down Due To Back Pain Issues Caused By Muscle Mass

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 6: <> during SmackDown at Moda Center on March 6, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by WWE/WWE)

Apr 12, 2026

Rhea Ripley recently denied online rumors claiming the reason why she appears slimmer than before is due to back pain issues caused by muscle mass.

Fightful’s Jeremy Lambert reported that these rumors appear to have originated from an interview Ripley had with the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast in July of 2025 which she had referenced having back pain issues. Lambert reported that Ripley never specifically mentioned muscle mass for being the reason why she was having back pain at the time but did mention a match she had against Raquel Rodriguez involving her hitting the edge of the announce table from a back bodydrop spot.

Lambert reported that a now removed misleading article by The Sportster appeared to have played a role in causing the rumor to spread online.

In response to a recent tweet from Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp about the situation, Ripley denied the rumors stating that the interview where she allegedly said she slimmed down due to back pain via muscle mass never actually happened and was just made up.