Rhea Ripley WWE Return "Up In The Air" (WWE News)

WWE's Rhea Ripley details her recovery from a meniscus tear.

WWE Clash in Italy 2026 Rhea Ripley
WWE

With plenty of uncertainty surrounding her status for next month's SummerSlam, Rhea Ripley has discussed how her return to WWE action is currently still "up in the air".

As picked up on by the Wrestling Observer, Rhea spoke to Nina Drama at this past weekend's Power Slap event, where she detailed the meniscus tear that's keeping her out of action.

On that issue, the Eradicator said that the tear is healing - "it's getting there, it's getting stronger" - but that she can't bend her knee well at the moment. With the tear being in a "really weird spot", Ripley described her potential return as "a little bit up in the air, with just how fast my body recovers". Worryingly, the Australian powerhouse also said that she "can't get up or bend down".

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The current WWE Women's Champion, Rhea Ripley's most recent televised match was at Clash in Italy at the end of May, where she defended her title against Jade Cargill. She did work a couple of European house show dates after that, but it was announced on the 12th June edition of SmackDown that Rhea was being assessed for a knee injury.

Previously, it was reported that tentative plans were in place for Ripley to put her WWE Women's Title on the line against Fatal Influence's Jacy Jayne at SummerSlam, with Alexa Bliss another potential opponent at the Biggest Party of the Summer. With SummerSlam taking place across the weekend of 1st and 2nd August, it remains to be seen whether Rhea Ripley will be cleared in time to compete at that huge PLE.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.