Rhea Ripley Set To Defend Her Title Next Week On WWE Raw Against Raquel Rodriguez, Dominic Is Banned From Ringisde
Rhea Ripley is set to defend her WWE Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez on next week’s episode of WWE Raw, in a high-stakes rematch following their recent clash at WWE Payback. The news broke last night when Rodriguez secured her spot by defeating Chelsea Green. Adding a new layer to the upcoming showdown, it has been announced that Dominic Mysterio, who played a pivotal role in Ripley’s previous win, will be banned from ringside.
Just this weekend at WWE Payback, Ripley and Rodriguez went toe-to-toe in a heart-pounding bout that lasted more than 15 minutes. With both competitors giving it their all, the match was thrown into chaos when Dominic Mysterio interfered. His distraction allowed Ripley the opportunity to execute her devastating finishing move and retain her championship. However, the controversial conclusion to the match left fans and critics questioning what might have happened without the unsolicited involvement. Rodriguez stated explicitly that she aims to even the playing field by keeping Mysterio away from the action next week.
Rodriguez, predominantly known for her role in the tag division, has partnered with a slew of notable names including Liv Morgan, Shotzi, and Aliyah. While the tag division has been beleaguered with its share of challenges—from injuries to inconsistent booking—Rodriguez has remained a stalwart competitor. Her win over Chelsea Green was all the more impressive given that Green’s tag team partner, Piper Niven, the other half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, was medically unable to participate. This singles victory has thrust Rodriguez back into the spotlight, affording her a golden opportunity to dethrone Ripley.
Ripley’s reign as the WWE Women’s World Champion began at WrestleMania 39, where she triumphed over Charlotte Flair in a match that has since become legendary. Over the last 157 days, she’s defended her title against formidable opponents including Zelina Vega and Natalya, whom she beat on two separate occasions. In an interesting turn of events, the championship title underwent rebranding during her reign, changing from the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship to its current designation.
Lately, Ripley has been deeply entangled with the actions of her faction, The Judgment Day. Every member of this stable is currently a titleholder, reinforcing the group’s dominance in the WWE landscape. While Dominic Mysterio, Ripley’s consistent ally in retaining her title, has been sidelined for the upcoming match, there was no word on the status of Ripley’s other Judgment Day cohorts, Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Both men were recently crowned the new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions and have a history of showing up when the stakes are high.
As the WWE Universe gears up for next week’s epic clash on Raw, speculation runs rife. Will Rodriguez capitalize on the absence of Mysterio and overthrow Ripley, or will the reigning champion prove once again why she sits atop the women’s division? Moreover, will The Judgment Day continue their tradition of mutual support, or will Ripley have to go it alone? With so many elements in play, this is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing title matches in recent memory, and fans worldwide are waiting with bated breath to see who will emerge victorious.
