WWE SummerSlam 2026: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True
8. Interim Champ Gets Injured Too!
Rhea Ripley's torn meniscus caused shockwaves in the women's division on SmackDown. Matches such as Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill and maybe even Tiffany Stratton defending her Women's United States Title were scrapped in favour of a 5-way ladder bout to thrash out an interim champ who will rival 'Mami' once she returns.
It's a fun contingency plan, and WWE will be hoping they're free from the gremlins blighting their female prizes once and for all. Or...perhaps they're doomed to experience more pain. Let's hope that isn't the case, but it does strike this writer as hazardous that we're going to see a ladder-based stunt show in Minnesota this weekend.
Is another injury on the way?! Argh!
Previously, Flair feigned injury during a Queen Of The Ring bout vs. Liv Morgan. Alexa Bliss and then-SmackDown GM Nick Aldis looked on concerned as Charlotte was writhing around in agony but determined to continue. Ultimately, she was eliminated from the tournament, but Flair looked every bit the valiant babyface for trying to grit her teeth and keep fighting.
It'd be an absolute disaster of epic proportions if she, Cargill or whomever is picked to become interim Women's Champ actually got struck down by injury for real. What then? WWE's creative team would have to dust off their thinking caps and work overtime to whip up yet another plot to escape the injury bug.
Again, everyone should get their fingers/toes crossed and manifest a reality in which this doesn't happen. It'd be bloody rotten luck if it did.