Rhea Ripley's lengthy reign as Women's World Champion has ended.
Ripley announced on this week's episode of Monday Night Raw that she has vacated the title after suffering an injury during an attack by Liv Morgan last week. Her right arm was in a sling as she made the announcement:
WWE @WWE💔💔💔💔💔<a href="">@RheaRipley_WWE</a> has just vacated the Women's World Championship on <a href="">#WWERaw</a> due to injury. <a href="">
WWE @WWEBREAKING NEWS: As the result of a backstage ambush by <a href="">@YaOnlyLivvOnce</a> last week on <a href="">#WWERaw</a>, <a href="">@RheaRipley_WWE</a> has been forced to vacate the Women's World Championship. <a href="">
Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported earlier on Monday that the injury Ripley suffered during last week's backstage brawl was severe enough that she'd be forced to vacate her title.
Ripley held the title for 380 days. She won the title by defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 last year. She defeated Becky Lynch in the opening match of Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 earlier this month.
The 27-year-old is already one of the most decorated women's wrestlers in her young WWE career. She's the seventh Women's Triple Crown Champion and fifth Women's Grand Slam Champion in company history, having held each singles title and the tag titles.
Without Ripley in the picture, WWE will have a tough decision for its next Women's World Champion. Lynch is an established star, but her status is in question amid rumors that her contract is expiring soon. Morgan had momentum from her recent return from injury, but her rivalry with Ripley was supposed to be her launching pad.
It's unclear how long Ripley will be sidelined, but fans will be anxiously awaiting her return so she can reclaim the title she never lost.
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