Rhea Ripley WWE SummerSlam 2026 Plans Before Injury Revealed

WWE

With Rhea Ripley currently out of action, details of plans for the WWE Women’s Champion at SummerSlam have been revealed.

The WWE Women’s Championship was on the line at Clash in Italy, with Rhea Ripley defending the title against Jade Cargill on the May 31 PLE.

With two more tag team matches as part of the WWE European Summer Tour, Ripley was noted to be working with a bandage on her leg.

WWE would confirm that Ripley had picked up a knee injury, which was being assessed by medical professionals, potentially putting a SummerSlam match in jeopardy.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has provided details of the planned card for SummerSlam, which included Rhea Ripley defending her WWE Women’s Championship against either Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne during the August 1 & 2 PLE.

The planned WWE SummerSlam 2026 line-up before Ripley’s injury was as follows:

Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk – WWE Championship

Rhea Ripley vs. Alexa Bliss or Jacy Jayne – WWE Women’s Championship

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins – World Heavyweight Championship

Liv Morgan vs. IYO SKY – Women’s World Championship

Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar – Hell in a Cell

Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill

Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes – United States Championship

GUNTHER vs. Royce Keys

Paige & Brie Bella vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid – Women’s Tag Team Championship

At the time of writing, there is no confirmation as to which matches will take place on August 1 and 2, with only three announced so far.

No WWE Women’s Championship Defense At SummerSlam?

For the second time in history, SummerSlam is a two-night Premium Live Event, but will feature potentially not WWE Women’s Championship match for the first time since the title was introduced in 2016.

Last year’s SummerSlam saw Ripley challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship, with Naomi retaining the title in a Triple Threat that also featured IYO SKY, marking only the third time that the Australian star had competed at the PLE.

This year, IYO SKY will once again be seeking a title opportunity, challenging Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship at SummerSlam, having defeated the Judgment Day member in the Queen of the Ring final at Night of Champions.

With just under a month to SummerSlam, it is possible that could make an in-ring return in time for “The Biggest Party of the Summer”, dependent on the severity of her injury.

WrestleTalk will provide further details of plans for SummerSlam and Rhea Ripley as they emerge.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• rhea ripley
• Injury
• wwe
• SummerSlam

Share this article with friends