11 WWE Title Changes That MUST Happen In 2023
3. Raw Women’s Championship - Rhea Ripley
Current Raw champ Bianca Belair has been one of the best women’s champions WWE has ever had, it’s fair to say. Her two bouts with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania and SummerSlam were MOTY contenders for the company, and her renewed hostilities with Bayley continue to exhibit tremendous chemistry between the two.
Where has she got left to take the title? Well, realistically, not far. At this point Belair’s run needs an endgame, and it should come in the form of Rhea Ripley. The Australian tasted gold in 2021, but somehow, despite all her upside, it was a bit bungled. The WrestleMania match with Asuka was good but not great, and it wasn’t long before WWE hit the emergency Charlotte Flair button.
Now, though, Ripley feels in a much better place. As the centre of The Judgement Day she’s more villainously charismatic than ever, a properly dominant figure. There are few who can go toe to toe with Bianca for power; indeed that list might start and end with Ripley.
They’ve faced off in NXT, and the pairing definitely works. The Ripley of 2023 is far better placed to take the spot at the top of the women’s roster, leaving Belair primed for another chase against new foes like Charlotte or Rousey.