15 New Directions For WWE After WrestleMania 42

7. IYO SKY Going After Rhea Ripley

WWE WrestleMania 42 Rhea Ripley IYO SKY
WWE.com

This might have to be done, because there’s no doubt the women’s division overall needs something massive after some lacklustre feuds heading into ‘Mania. Granted, it could be tough to do Rhea Ripley vs. IYO SKY as a babyface vs. babyface showdown, so maybe Ripley going heel for the first time in years is the right thing to do.

Hmm. Hunter will be hesitant to do that when 'Mami' is one of his pet projects, sells a lot of merchandise and has been so over as a babyface. Needs must though, and it's less likely that fans would turn on IYO due to her bubbly personality. Besides, it'd be easier for Rhea to put herself over as a villain on the mic.

Plus, she has something to defend now. This isn't a shared spotlight situation like it was with SKY as Women's Tag-Team Champs. No, Ripley stands alone as the new Women's Champion after toppling Jade Cargill. She won't want to keep celebrating with IYO over and over again, 'cause that'll feel like a friend leeching on her success.

Creative can slow burn this a bit and book another tag tilt in the interim for RHIYO. Once that fails, Ripley can allege that IYO is to blame. Then, boom! They'll be rivals before you know it, and SummerSlam will be on the horizon. Ripley vs. SKY sounds like a big enough deal to snag a spot on that PLE lineup.

What's the alternative? Rhea and Jade locking horns again? No thanks to that idea.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.