WWE star Rhea Ripley announced Thursday that she has undergone surgery on her right knee. Ripley, the current WWE Women's Champion and a prominent figure on the SmackDown brand, shared the news on Instagram, citing the cumulative toll of nearly 14 years in professional wrestling and sports.
"After just under 14 (years) in wrestling and doing sports my entire life… It’s caught up to me," Ripley wrote in her post. "Surgery was never a first option for me, but it got to the point that it was needed… First one down…Hopefully no more… I’ve survived, now it’s time to start thriving again so I can get back to what I love to do! See you all down the road."
Ripley has not appeared on "Friday Night SmackDown" since June 5. Reports had previously indicated an injury, but the specifics and expected duration of her absence remained unclear.
Her absence has led to a championship vacancy being addressed. At SummerSlam, Chelsea Green emerged victorious in a ladder match, outlasting Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Lash Legend, and Charlotte Flair to claim the Interim WWE Women's Championship. This marks Green's first world title reign.
Fans anticipate Ripley's return to unify the championship against Green once she has recovered from surgery. Ripley last appeared in a match on April 6, 2024, at WrestleMania XL, facing Becky Lynch.