Rhea Ripley says she has had knee surgery after absence from WWE TV since June 2026

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has announced via her X account that she underwent surgery on a knee injury after being off WWE television since early June 2026, a layoff that caused her to miss SummerSlam.

Ripley’s most recent in-ring match was at Clash in Italy, where she successfully defended the title against Jade Cargill, and she made a subsequent appearance on the SmackDown fallout show before disappearing from programming. With Ripley absent at SummerSlam, WWE staged a ladder match to crown an Interim Champion, which Chelsea Green won.

Posting a photo showing a large brace on her right leg, Ripley confirmed the operation and wrote: "After just under 14 year 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…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 wrote.

Ripley did not provide a timeline for a return in her post. Fans have speculated about the length of her absence and whether she will be required to vacate the WWE Women’s title as a result of the surgery.

Wrestling Observer Live’s Bryan Alvarez has reported there are "growing indications that Ripley will relinquish the WWE Women’s title after undergoing knee surgery, with the belief that she’ll be out of action for a long period of time." The report frames the possibility of Ripley surrendering the championship while she recovers.

Khel Now extended wishes for Ripley’s recovery and reiterated that Ripley confirmed the surgery and is on the road to recovery; the update arrived after the weekend in which Chelsea Green captured the WWE Women’s title at SummerSlam. As of now there is no official clarification on whether Ripley will relinquish the title, and she is expected to remain out of action following the procedure.

Ripley has not announced a return date, and with Chelsea Green holding the title following the SummerSlam ladder match, the immediate next development will be whether WWE or Ripley confirms a title relinquishment while she recuperates.