WWE Champion Reveals Brutal Truth After Years of Sacrifice

Liberty Check

• WWE superstar Rhea Ripley underwent knee surgery after nearly 14 years of brutal competition
• The reigning women’s champion has been out since early June following an undisclosed injury
• WWE crowned an interim champion at SummerSlam, setting up a potential blockbuster unification match

WWE champion Rhea Ripley revealed Thursday that she underwent surgery on her right knee after years of physical sacrifice finally caught up to her. The announcement came after two months of absence from Friday Night SmackDown.

“Life update,” Ripley wrote on Instagram. “After just under 14 (years) in wrestling and doing sports my entire life… It’s caught up to me. Surgery was never a first option for me, but it got to the point that it was needed…”

The reigning WWE women’s champion and one of SmackDown’s top stars hasn’t appeared on the program since June 5. While reports indicated an injury sidelined the champion, WWE kept details under wraps until Ripley’s announcement.

“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 continued in her post.

The extended absence forced WWE to crown an interim champion. At SummerSlam over the weekend, Chelsea Green outlasted Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Lash Legend and Charlotte Flair in a brutal ladder match to capture the Interim WWE Women’s Championship — her first world title reign.

Ripley missed both Night of Champions and SummerSlam during her recovery. With Green now holding the interim title, the stage appears set for a blockbuster unification match once the champion returns to full health.

The wrestling community rallied behind Ripley’s announcement, recognizing the toll that years of high-level competition takes on even the most elite athletes. Her determination to return stronger demonstrates the resilience that made her a champion in the first place.

Americans deserve athletes who give everything for their craft.