Rhea Ripley has finally broken her silence on the knee injury that has kept her off WWE television, offering fans a clearer picture of her recovery while also admitting that her return remains uncertain.
With SummerSlam drawing closer, the update leaves plenty of questions still hanging in the air.
The WWE Women’s Champion spoke about her condition while attending Friday night’s Power Slap event, revealing that the injury is improving but is far from fully healed.
Rhea Ripley reveals meniscus tear and uncertain WWE return timeline
Ripley confirmed that she suffered a slight tear in her meniscus during her successful Women’s Championship defense against Jade Cargill at Clash in Italy on May 31. Since then, she has not competed, and WWE has yet to announce what the future holds for the championship.
Providing an honest assessment of her recovery, Ripley said, “I am injured, unfortunately. I hurt my knee. I’ve got a slight tear in my meniscus. It’s healing. It’s getting there and getting stronger, but I can’t bend it right now, so I kind of need it to bend.”
She also explained why doctors have been unable to provide a definite timetable for her return.
“I don’t know. I tore it in a weird spot, so it’s a little bit up in the air how fast my body recovers. I’ve been out for over a month now. It does feel better, but it still starts to hurt and throb. I can’t get up or bend down really slowly, so I move side to side while crouching. It sucks.”
According to reports, Ripley’s absence has forced WWE to adjust several plans in the women’s division ahead of SummerSlam on Aug. 1 and 2 in Minneapolis. Tiffany Stratton reportedly replaced her on the updated Night of Champions promotional poster while continuing to undergo weekly evaluations.
Although the injury has been described as a slight tear, Ripley’s comments make it clear that recovery isn’t as straightforward as a simple one-two-three count. Until WWE receives a clearer medical outlook, her status for SummerSlam remains uncertain. So, fans will have to wait a little longer for “Mami” to step back into the ring.
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