Rhea Ripley Details Meniscus Tear, SummerSlam Status Still Uncertain

Rhea Ripley has offered her most candid look yet at the knee injury keeping her off WWE television, acknowledging that her recovery timeline remains unclear as SummerSlam draws closer.

The WWE Women’s Champion has been out of action since her title defense against Jade Cargill at Clash in Italy on May 31. Making an appearance at a Power Slap event on Friday, July 11, Ripley confirmed she suffered a minor meniscus tear and described the day-to-day reality of her rehabilitation.

“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.”

The location of the tear is a key factor complicating her recovery. Ripley explained that because the damage occurred in an unusual spot, medical staff have struggled to give her a firm return date.

“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.”

The uncertainty surrounding Ripley has already had ripple effects on WWE’s creative direction. Tiffany Stratton has reportedly been inserted into Night of Champions promotional materials in Ripley’s place, and Ripley is said to be undergoing regular medical evaluations as WWE monitors her progress.

SummerSlam is scheduled for August 1 and 2 in Minneapolis, giving Ripley roughly three weeks to gain clearance. While the injury is not considered one that would require a prolonged absence, her own words make clear that the recovery is unpredictable. Until she can fully bend and bear weight on the knee, her participation at WWE’s biggest summer event is very much an open question.