Rhea Ripley‘s status for WWE Night of Champions appears increasingly uncertain following a recent injury update.
During last Friday’s episode of SmackDown, commentators Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore revealed that the reigning WWE Women’s Champion is currently being evaluated after suffering a knee injury. While WWE has yet to provide a detailed medical update, a recent promotional change has fueled further speculation about Ripley’s availability for the upcoming premium live event.
WWE recently updated promotional material for Night of Champions, replacing Ripley with Tiffany Stratton, the WWE Women’s United States Champion. The updated graphic appeared on the banner of WWE’s official YouTube channel and no longer features Ripley among the stars advertised for the event.
Although WWE has not officially announced that Ripley will miss the show, her removal from the promotional artwork has led to questions about whether she will be able to compete or appear in Riyadh later this month.
Rhea Ripley Suffered A Knee Injury On WWE’s European Tour
The injury was first referenced on SmackDown, where Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore noted that Rhea Ripley was dealing with a knee issue sustained during WWE’s recent tour of Italy. Ripley continued to appear during the tour, though some fans noticed she was wearing additional support on her leg.
At this stage, WWE has not confirmed the severity of the injury or provided a timetable for Ripley’s return. Stratton’s addition to the promotional material is also noteworthy, given that the Women’s United States Championship has yet to be defended on a premium live event since its introduction in December 2024.
WWE Night of Champions takes place on June 27 from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will stream internationally on Netflix, while viewers in the United States can watch through the ESPN App.
