Rhea Ripley got WWE fans excited without even trying. A new video showing the former Women’s World Champion moving around much more comfortably than before immediately had people wondering if her comeback was right around the corner—but Mami quickly stepped in to pump the brakes.
A video shared on September 23 showed Ripley without the large knee brace she’d been wearing following meniscus surgery. She was also seen walking briskly away from a wrestling ring, leading plenty of fans to believe she was much further along in her recovery than expected. Ripley noticed the reaction herself and decided to clear things up before the rumors got out of hand.
“Walking and wrestling are very different 😅 learnt how to walk last week so don’t get too excited, stay patient with me.”
It’s an encouraging sign considering where she was just a few weeks ago. After undergoing surgery in August, Ripley was spotted on crutches with a heavy knee brace, and WWE has remained cautious about putting a timetable on her return.
This footage certainly shows she’s making progress, but Ripley’s message makes it clear she’s not ready for fans to start counting down the days until she’s back in the ring. Learning to walk comfortably again is one milestone. Wrestling at the level she’s known for is an entirely different one.
Bottom line: Ripley’s latest update may not have answered the biggest question about her return, but it did answer one thing: the recovery is moving forward. Now it’s just a matter of how long it takes before walking turns back into wrestling.
When Mami finally does return, do you think WWE should put her right back into the title picture? Let us know in the comments below.
