Rhea Ripley has officially gone under the knife. The WWE Women’s Champion revealed on August 6 that she underwent surgery after her torn meniscus failed to heal the way she hoped.
Ripley shared a photo on Instagram showing her leg locked inside a large brace. She said surgery was never her preferred option, but the injury eventually left her with no other choice.
“Life update. 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. First one down. Hopefully no more.”
Ripley did not reveal exactly what procedure she underwent or give fans a timetable for her WWE return. She did make it clear that she is ready to begin recovering and working her way back to the ring.
“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.”
The torn meniscus already kept Ripley out of SummerSlam and forced WWE to change several creative plans. The company eventually crowned an interim women’s champion rather than stripping Ripley of her title.
Ripley previously said the tear was located in an awkward spot and continued causing pain even after she spent more than a month away from the ring. She also admitted she struggled to bend her knee and perform basic movements.
Now that surgery is complete, Ripley’s focus is fully on rehabilitation. There is no confirmed return date, but her message made one thing clear—she plans to come back.
How long do you think Rhea Ripley will be out following surgery, and who should she face when she returns? Leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments.
