Rhea Ripley being pulled from WWE’s Night of Champions advertising is looking a whole lot less random now.
Ripley is sidelined while holding the Women’s World Championship after news broke last week that she was dealing with a knee injury. That already had fans wondering what WWE was going to do next, but now there’s more going on behind the scenes than just one missing poster spot.
WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select noted that there has been major movement involving Ripley’s direction, along with several women on the WWE SmackDown roster. WWE has apparently had to start moving pieces around in case Ripley is out for a significant amount of time.
That tracks with what Ringside News noticed. WWE first dropped the Night of Champions 2026 poster on June 8 with Ripley featured alongside Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, and Trick Williams. She was right there as one of the faces of the show.
Then WWE updated the poster on June 16, and Ripley was gone. Tiffany Stratton was added in her place, which was impossible to ignore after WWE had already announced Ripley was being evaluated for the knee issue.
WrestleVotes previously said WWE was still waiting to find out how long Ripley could be out, and whether SummerSlam could be affected.
“They did announce Friday night she sustained an injury. From what we’re told, they’re still waiting to figure out how long this will be and if she will miss SummerSlam.”
That is where the problem gets bigger for WWE. Ripley is not just another name on the board. She is one of the biggest stars in the women’s division, and if she is gone for any serious stretch, creative has to start changing plans fast.
WrestleVotes also noted that Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill had been penciled in at one point, but that match could change if WWE needs to adjust around Ripley’s injury.
“If she misses SummerSlam, a lot of plans change. We reported how at one point Jade Cargill vs. Charlotte Flair was penciled in. I believe that match gets changed if Rhea Ripley is affected by the injury.”
Now the latest update makes the poster switch feel even louder. WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select states there has been significant shuffling around Ripley and the SmackDown women’s division, with several plans already being adjusted in the event that she is sidelined for a lengthy period.
WWE has already adjusted the Night of Champions advertising to remove Ripley and include Tiffany Stratton, so this is not just fans reading too much into a random graphic. WWE is clearly preparing for the possibility that one of its biggest women’s stars may not be available.
Ripley last wrestled at WWE Clash in Italy, where she retained her title against Jade Cargill. She also worked live events during WWE’s European tour before SmackDown revealed she was being evaluated for the knee injury.
WWE has not announced a timetable for Ripley’s return, but the signs are not exactly calming anyone down. When a champion disappears from major event artwork and creative starts shifting plans behind the scenes, that usually means the company is getting ready for a rough backup plan.
What do you think WWE should do if Rhea Ripley is sidelined for a significant amount of time? Should Tiffany Stratton, Charlotte Flair, or Jade Cargill be the next woman to benefit from the shakeup? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.