Rhea Ripley has officially turned on Liv Morgan. Maria Kanellis-Bennett announces a brand new organization. Rok-C makes her WWE debut and more! Let’s break it all down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Maria Kanellis-Bennett Announces Women’s Wrestling Army
Last week, Maria Kanellis-Bennett released a teaser for a new project entitled “Women’s Wrestling Army”. As part of its initial reveal, the legendary superstar wrote the following via Twitter:
The Journey
It’s a thousand seemingly insignificant decisions. The wrong turns. The dead ends. The climb. The process. The passion. The failures. And the successes. It’s the no. The next no. A million beating drums in your mind that continue to tell you no. Can you do this? The unthinkable. A hated word Diva. That defined, your career. Can you, small town girl, Diva turn that no to that brilliantly simple but almost unattainable word, Yes? Yes. You can transition. From small town girl turned Diva, to an Apprentice, a voice, an example, from bitter to better, to manage, to mother, to produce, to produce change. Changing ever so slightly, to keep up with my less experienced contemporaries, to stay relevant. For them to speak out. And stand up. To create opportunity. Crafting a craft that is in a position with the possibility to overhaul or overtake an industry with innovation on a platform with performance in professional wrestling. What’s NEXT? CEO? BOD? What’s Next?
Build an ARMY
A few days later, Kanellis revealed more information about the organization’s first official show. Scheduled for May 1st, Women’s Wrestling Army will run in conjunction with Women’s Wrestling Revolution (WWR+) to bring forth these shows from Providence, Rhode Island.
Women’s Wrestling Revolution will host their show at 2 pm from the Fete Music Hall in Providence, while Women’s Wrestling Army will run at 7 pm the same day. The current lineup for Women’s Wrestling Army’s official first show has yet to be announced, but Maria Kanellis-Bennett revealed that a formal press release with more information will be unveiled this week with more information.
The WWR+ event already boasts a stellar match card, including:
– Willow Nightingale vs. Jordan Blade
– Jody Threat vs. Davienne
– Alisha Edwards vs. Kayla Sparks
– Administration (Damian Adams & Pedro Dones) vs. Outfielders (Shea McCoy & Weber Hatfield)
– Tiara James vs. JC Storm
– Tina San Antonio vs. Trish Adora
– Ashley D’Amboise vs. Little Mean Kathleen
– Hardcore Geeks (Kennedi Copeland & Riley Shepard) vs. Artsy Fartsy (Edith Surreal & Erica Leigh)
RELATED: Maria Kanellis-Bennett Is Having Fun With Her Return To IMPACT, Being A Manager Again
The Journey Begins…. May 1st in Providence, RI @fetemusic at 7:00pm eastern in conjunction with @wwrprowrestling !!!
Tickets @ShopIWTV https://t.co/YXQ5w7W7fk@WWrestlingArmy pic.twitter.com/LbKawYhwQi
— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) April 15, 2022
Rhea Ripley Turns On Liv Morgan
This week on Monday Night RAW, Rhea Ripley shocked the world when she turned on her tag team partner, Liv Morgan.
Competing in a title match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan seemed poised to possibly clutch the victory. Each competitor had achieved singles wins over the current champs, Sasha Banks and Naomi. Liv Morgan had previously beat Sasha Banks, while Rhea Ripley defeated Naomi on last week’s edition of Smackdown.
At the end of this championship matchup though, Ripley was found fending for herself during a double-team from Banks and Naomi. With Morgan knocked to the outside of the ring, Sasha Banks managed to pin Ripley to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. After the match, however, Ripley was visibly upset at their loss. Although Morgan tried to defuse the tension by walking away, Rhea Ripley attacked her from behind and landed a brutal Riptide on her tag team partner.
When later asked backstage what the reasoning was for her actions, Ripley proclaimed that she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. Now, the main roster women’s tag team division finds itself diminished to only two teams: the champions, Sasha Banks and Naomi, and Natalya and Shayna Baszler. Natalya has appeared on NXT programming in the last couple weeks, so the future of Baszler and herself as an ongoing tag team is in question.
Nevertheless, Rhea Ripley has now officially turned heel.
Quite the turn of events for @RheaRipley_WWE and @YaOnlyLivvOnce… ? #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/6x4gqvhymK
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2022
Former ROH Women’s Champion Rok-C Makes Official WWE Debut
Last week on the post-Smackdown episode of NXT Level Up, a former ROH Women’s Champion made her official debut on WWE programming.
Since officially being announced as a part of WWE’s newest Performance Center Class last month, “The Prodigy” Rok-C has now officially made her WWE debut. Now under the name Roxanne Perez, the former ROH Women’s Champion faced Sloane Jacobs (formerly Notorious Mimi) on last week’s edition of NXT Level Up.
Jacobs first appeared on WWE programming in a loss to Nikkita Lyons last month, but looked to pick up her first win in the company against Roxanne. In a competitive showing by both opponents, Roxanne landed her signature Code Red for the finish. Therefore, Roxanne Perez is now 1-0 in WWE.
Also on last week’s NXT Level Up, Tatum Paxley defeated Kiana James, accruing her first singles victory in the process. Paxley has recently aligned herself with Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile, presumably hoping to gain favor of the dominant faction. Later this week, Paxley takes on former Smackdown Women’s Champion Natalya on NXT 2.0.
The BOAT @NatbyNature arrives on #WWENXT and puts the whole women’s division on notice.@TatumPaxley pic.twitter.com/29VTLLQ2lN
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 14, 2022
RELATED: WWE Files Trademarks For Roxanne Perez & Three Other Names
AEW Women’s Owen Hart Cup Updates
Five women have now officially qualified for All Elite Wrestling’s upcoming Owen Hart Cup tournament.
Last week on AEW Rampage, Ruby Soho took on Robyn Renegade in a qualifying matchup. With the aid of her twin sister Charlette, Robyn nearly gained the pinfall in the matchup after the sisters pulled a Twin Magic stunt.
However, the switch wasn’t enough, as eventually, Soho was able to regain control and take home the win.
And @realrubysoho advances to the #OwenHart Foundation Women's Tournament with a victory over @W18Robin! #AEWRampage is LIVE on @tntdrama right now! pic.twitter.com/dbqstANWYB
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 15, 2022
Ruby Soho now officially enters the first-ever Owen Hart Cup in the women’s tournament. She joins the likes of Toni Storm, Jamie Hayter, Hikaru Shida, and Red Velvet who previously qualified. Soon, another name will enter the fray as well.
Wednesday night on AEW Dynamite, former AEW Women’s World Champion returns to the ring for the first time following her loss at St. Patrick’s Day Slam last month against Thunder Rosa. Ironically, Baker will return in front of her hometown of Pittsburgh. There, she will face former NXT superstar Danielle Kamela in an Owen Hart Cup qualifying match.
Although no full official brackets have been formulated yet for the women’s tournament, it was revealed that Jamie Hayter and Toni Storm will indeed square off in the first round once the tournament begins in May.
Oh yes, the doctor is most definitely back in. @RealBrittBaker returns to the ring on #AEWDynamite at 8/7c on @TBSNetwork pic.twitter.com/8BT374vfbH
— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) April 19, 2022
INTERVIEWS
Former Smackdown Women’s Champion Natalya appeared on Wilde On to discuss her thoughts on Belair and Lynch, her tenure in WWE, working with Xia Li, and more.
Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion Deonna Purrazzo spoke with MuscleManMalcolm about defending the AAA Reine De Reinas Championship against Taya Valkyrie at Rebellion, Tony Khan buying ROH, the new interim ROH Women’s World Champion Mercedes Martinez, and more.
Former RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley chatted with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about her relationship with Vince McMahon, working with Liv Morgan, America, and more.
Pro Wrestling star Faye Jackson appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss her retirement from the ring, her work with Playboy, the Creep Squad and more.
Former Divas Champion Celeste Bonin joined The Sessions with Renee Paquette to discuss her exit with WWE, how she found a new purpose in business and life with a new partner, friendship with Big E and more.
Former NXT superstar Jessie Elaban spoke with Alicia Atout about delicious late night bites, loving to paint, power tool incidents, her experience in WWE, intense passions, and more.
