Tensions in WWE’s women’s division escalated between Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill on the March 13 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, as the road to WrestleMania 42 took another sharp turn.
Following a match that featured the reigning champion in action, the night ended with a heated confrontation that left little doubt about how personal the rivalry has become.
With WrestleMania looming, the exchange added another layer of intensity to what is already shaping up to be one of the event’s biggest matchups.
Rhea Ripley Fires Back After Jade Cargill’s SmackDown Promo
The situation unfolded after Jade Cargill defeated Michin in a non-title match. Michin had returned to in-ring competition after roughly two months away due to injury, but Cargill ultimately secured the victory with her finishing move, Jaded.
After the match, Cargill grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd. The champion dismissed the idea that she should fear anyone in the division — specifically referencing Rhea Ripley.
Jade Cargill said that while others believe she should be worried about Rhea Ripley, she sees no threat. Cargill added that she intends to defeat Ripley at WrestleMania and prove why she remains on top of the division.
Before the segment could end, Rhea Ripley made her entrance and stepped into the ring as Cargill exited.
Ripley then delivered a brief but pointed response. She told the crowd that Cargill is not the embodiment of female power and issued a direct warning for WrestleMania.
Ripley punctuated the moment with a blunt message, stating that when they meet on the grand stage, Cargill will be her “bitch.”
The confrontation is the latest chapter in their ongoing rivalry heading toward WrestleMania 42. Ripley earned the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Women’s Championship after winning the 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
With the showdown set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the verbal exchanges suggest the rivalry is far from cooling down.
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