Rhea Ripley‘s reported knee injury has already led to behind-the-scenes changes as WWE prepares for Night of Champions.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE has made several creative adjustments within the SmackDown women’s division amid concerns that the WWE Women’s Champion could be sidelined for an extended period.
The report states that plans have been altered in anticipation of Rhea Ripley potentially missing time, although the exact nature and severity of her injury have not been disclosed.
One visible change has already taken place, with Tiffany Stratton replacing Ripley on promotional and advertising material for Night of Champions, which takes place June 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rhea Ripley Has Made WWE TV Appearances Despite Suffering From Injury
Rhea Ripley has continued appearing on SmackDown television in recent weeks but has not competed since her match against Jade Cargill at Clash in Italy. WWE announced last week that the former Women’s World Champion was undergoing evaluation for a knee injury, though no official diagnosis has been revealed.
The injury update comes at a crucial time for WWE as the company continues building toward Night of Champions. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments are nearing their conclusions, with Oba Femi and Iyo Sky already securing spots in their respective finals.
Elsewhere on the card, Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker are set to renew their rivalry inside a steel cage, while United States Champion Trick Williams awaits the winner of an upcoming number one contender’s match between Ricky Saints and Carmelo Hayes.
For now, WWE has not provided any further details on Ripley’s condition or a potential timetable for her return to action. However, the reported creative changes suggest the company is already preparing for the possibility that one of its top stars could be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
