Rhea Ripley faced heartbreak at WWE SummerSlam 2024, but she battled her way back to the spotlight in the months that followed. Despite her momentum, WWE reportedly scrapped significant plans involving Ripley and another top star in the lead-up to WrestleMania 41.

Ripley reclaimed the Women’s World Championship for the second time when Monday Night RAW premiered on Netflix. After a convincing win over Liv Morgan, she seemed set to head into WrestleMania as champion once again. However, those plans were unexpectedly dropped.

With the debut of WWE: Unreal on Netflix, it was revealed that the original plan for the 28-year-old was to defend her title in a singles match against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41. Unfortunately, that dream match never came to fruition. Instead, Ripley entered the Las Vegas event as a challenger, having lost her championship to IYO SKY.

Triple Threat Replaces One-on-One Showdown

Although the one-on-one match with Belair was scrapped, the core of the storyline remained. Both Ripley and Belair competed at WrestleMania 41 as challengers in a triple threat match against IYO SKY. The match became one of the standout moments of the event, and all three women remained key players in the title picture on RAW afterward.

Triple H Praises Rhea Ripley’s Star Power

Despite not holding the title, Ripley continues to be a major force in WWE. Widely regarded as one of the biggest names in the women’s division, she has received praise from veterans and fans alike.

Triple H, appearing on WWE: Unreal, spoke highly of Ripley’s connection with the audience and her potential longevity in the business.

“When that music hits, it’s a moment in the crowd, and it’s undeniable. She has it. She can be the biggest star in this business for a long time to come. The reaction for her is incredible. It’s hard not to look at her as the most captivating woman on our roster,” said the WWE Chief Content Officer.

I say it every single week, but these pops for Rhea Ripley are just unbelievable.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/jRP9lTiCcn

— 𝙎𝙖𝙢 (@RhodesKotaEra) July 29, 2025

Rhea Ripley is now set to compete at SummerSlam in New Jersey as a challenger in another high-stakes triple threat match for the Women’s World Championship—this time against IYO SKY and the reigning champion, Naomi. All eyes will be on Mami as she looks to reclaim her crown on one of WWE’s biggest nights.