Rhea Ripley Reveals Meniscus Tear After Championship Win
WWE star Rhea Ripley reveals slight – WWE star Rhea Ripley reveals she is dealing with a slight meniscus tear that is keeping her out of action. The champion recently confirmed the injury during a public appearance, explaining that the knee problem is currently in the healing phase. This development comes shortly after Ripley successfully retained the WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill at the Clash in Italy event.
Missing Recent Appearances
Ripley’s absence from television has been noticeable since June 5. She missed the Night Champions event and has not been seen on Friday Night SmackDown supporting her allies. Meanwhile, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss have been competing against Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab without their champion by their side.
The timing of the injury proved frustrating for the wrestler. Just as she seemed to be wrapping up her rivalry with Cargill through their title match, the unexpected health issue removed her from the picture. This gives her opponents a chance to regroup and develop new strategies.
Public Confirmation at Power Slap
Ripley finally spoke about her condition at a Power Slap event on Friday. She had a candid conversation with content creator Nina Drama about the nature of her knee problem. The champion explained that while she is feeling improvement, recovery remains a gradual process.
“I hurt my knee. I got a slight tear in my meniscus, it’s just healing. It’s getting there. It’s getting stronger. I just can’t bend it very well. Kind of need to bend, guys,” Ripley shared with Drama.
The specific location of the tear has complicated her recovery timeline. Ripley noted that the injury occurred in what she described as a “really weird spot,” which means her body’s healing response may not follow a predictable pattern. This uncertainty has led her to avoid setting a definitive date for her return to action.
Recovery Timeline and Symptoms
According to Ripley’s own assessment, she has been sidelined for approximately five weeks. She estimated her absence at “a month and one week,” indicating that the injury has kept her away from regular training and television appearances for nearly a full month. While she reports feeling improvement, the symptoms persist in ways that affect her daily movement and athletic performance.
“I tore it in a really weird spot, so it’s kind of a little bit up in the air with just how fast my body recovers. But I’ve been out for probably about a month now. I think it’s been a month and one week,” she explained. “It feels better. It still starts to hurt and throb and it gets tired. I can’t get up or bend down really or kind of move side to side while crouching. We’ll see how it goes.”
The champion described ongoing discomfort that manifests as throbbing and fatigue in the affected knee. More specifically, she struggles with basic movements such as standing up, bending downward, and shifting her weight from side to side while in a crouched position. These limitations are particularly significant for a wrestler whose game relies heavily on agility and mobility.
Ripley’s current situation is all the more notable given her status as one of WWE’s most beloved performers across both men’s and women’s divisions. Her championship reign began at WrestleMania 42, where she defeated Cargill to capture the WWE Women’s Championship. That victory marked a significant milestone in her career, establishing her as a dominant force in the company.
As Ripley continues her recovery journey, the wrestling world watches to see when she will return to the ring. Her absence has opened opportunities for other superstars to make their mark, but the champion’s eventual comeback promises to be a major event for WWE programming. Until then, she remains focused on rehabilitation, trusting that her body will heal properly despite the unpredictable nature of her injury.
