The WWE universe was rocked this week as former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley found herself blindsided in an unexpected backstage attack by Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. After delivering a pep talk to the NXT women’s locker room, Ripley was left bloodied and bruised beside her car, a scene that, according to WWE insiders, was designed to write her off television while she recovers from a legitimate injury.
According to Dave Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Ripley suffered a fractured orbital bone during a scuffle with Rodriguez on Raw. This injury is, unfortunately, the second major setback for Ripley this year after her shoulder injury led to the vacating of her championship. And Meltzer isn’t holding out hope for a quick recovery, noting, “She’s going to be out for a while.”
Ripley’s feud with Morgan has escalated beyond just title contention: Morgan’s newly budding romance with Dominik Mysterio—Ripley’s former beau—is adding all kinds of heat to the rivalry. But as for when Ripley will return to settle the score? That remains up in the air.