WWE's Rhea Ripley Provides Injury Update: 'Learnt How To Walk Last Week'
It was a cruel summer for "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley, after revealing she tore her meniscus, which has kept her out of in-ring action since early June. Though the recovery process might remain long and tedious, there is some good news to report, as she can walk steadily for the first time since undergoing surgery in August.
In a recently uploaded TikTok video, Ripley is seen climbing off the ring apron and walking in front of students who are part of the SPYDA x Bodybiz wrestling masterclass that she and her husband, AEW star Buddy Matthews, are currently coaching in Tampa, Florida. Met with immediate reactions of anticipation and excitement from the online pro wrestling community, Ripley was quick to caution those hopeful her in-ring return is nigh that she still has a long ways to go: "Walking and wrestling are very different...Learnt how to walk last week so don't get too excited, stay patient with me."
@.evil_8 I miss her so much @Rhea Ripley – insta: ripleymeme X: evill_7l #wwe #explore #rhearipley #rhearipleyedit #rhearipley_wwe
Ripley's last televised match occurred at the Clash in Italy PLE on May 31, where she successfully retained her WWE Women's Championship against Jade Cargill. Ripley won the title from Cargill at this year's WrestleMania 42 in April. After that title fight, Ripley went on to compete in two non-televised matches as part of WWE's European Summer Tour before being pulled. WWE officials then made the difficult decision to keep Ripley off of this year's SummerSlam card.
In her absence, a new Interim Women's Champion was crowned in Chelsea Green at SummerSlam, where she outfoxed Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton, Lash Legend, and Cargill in their five-way ladder match. Despite obtaining an orbital bone injury just days after capturing the championship, Green remains the Interim Women's Champion, as of this report.