WWE Has A Backup Plan For WrestleMania 42... And It Sounds Pretty Great! (WWE News)
Bianca Belair isn't likely, but WWE has one hell of a contingency plan for Jade Cargill.
Self Made Pro is reporting that there's a very good chance none other than Rhea Ripley wins big during the Elimination Chamber PLE this weekend in Chicago. Then, 'Mami' would roll on to WrestleMania 42 for a clash with Jade Cargill for the Women's Title.
Apparently, that's been Triple H's backup plan all along. It was hoped that Bianca Belair would be back on TV by now following a lengthy layoff, but that hasn't transpired and it looks unlikely that the 'EST' will return in time to pull the trigger on a 'Mania match with her old tag-team partner Jade.
So, Rhea is the beneficiary and might well get the spot instead.
When scanning the field for the women's Chamber bout on Saturday, Ripley definitely stands out as the most vibrant challenger for Cargill. Tiffany Stratton is in there too, but her going after Jade doesn't carry the same spice on paper as Ripley despite the fact that Tiffy dropped the title to Cargill last November at Saturday Night's Main Event.
Ripley matches up better physically to Jade, and this is a match that WWE's writers would've had in their back pockets for a while now. In lieu of Belair, which they were holding out for, Rhea slots in nicely. She can always pull double duty across WrestleMania weekend if needed - Ripley and IYO SKY will presumably defend their Women's Tag Titles in Las Vegas as well.
So, don't be too shocked if Rhea comes out on top in the Chamber then appears on SmackDown from now until April's weekender.