Rhea Ripley, the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, will have to defend her title against Raquel Rodriguez at WWE Payback on September 2 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The match was confirmed after Rodriguez made a shocking return on Monday Night Raw and attacked Ripley with a crutch.
Rodriguez had been out of action for weeks due to a knee injury that she suffered at the hands of Ripley before SummerSlam. Ripley had targeted Rodriguez and her tag team partner Liv Morgan, who were the former Women’s Tag Team Champions, and sidelined them both with brutal assaults.
On Monday, Ripley faced Candice LeRae in a non-title match and made her tap out with the Eradicator submission. After the match, Rodriguez came out with a crutch and pretended to be still injured. Ripley and her ally Dominik Mysterio mocked Rodriguez and her injury, but Rodriguez threw her crutch at Ripley and revealed that she had been medically cleared to compete.
Rodriguez then proceeded to beat down Ripley in the ring, hitting her with a spinebuster and a powerbomb. She then got on the mic and announced that she had already spoken to Adam Pearce, the Raw General Manager, and that the match between herself and Ripley for the Women’s World Title was set for Payback.
Ripley’s dominant reign as Women’s World Champion
Rhea Ripley has been the WWE Women’s World Champion since WrestleMania 39, where she defeated Charlotte Flair in a historic match. Since then, she has successfully defended her title against challengers such as Sasha Banks, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Bianca Belair, and Nikki Cross.
Ripley has also formed an alliance with Dominik Mysterio, the son of WWE legend Rey Mysterio. The two have been working together to fend off their enemies and have shown a mutual respect for each other. Ripley has praised Dominik for his courage and talent, while Dominik has called Ripley his inspiration and mentor.
Ripley has also been vocal about her displeasure with being left off the SummerSlam card, reportedly due to time constraints that also affected the match between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus. Ripley said that she deserved to be on the biggest show of the summer and that she was ready to face anyone who dared to challenge her.
Rodriguez’s quest for revenge and glory
Raquel Rodriguez is no stranger to gold in WWE. She is a former Women’s Tag Team Champion with Liv Morgan, whom she considers her best friend and sister. The two won the titles from Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville at WrestleMania 39 in a fatal four-way match that also involved The IIconics and The Riott Squad.
Rodriguez and Morgan were a popular and successful team, but their reign came to an abrupt end when they were attacked by Rhea Ripley on Raw. Ripley targeted Rodriguez’s knee with a steel chair and put her out of commission. Morgan tried to defend her partner, but she also fell victim to Ripley’s wrath.
Rodriguez was furious with Ripley for injuring her and costing her the tag team titles. She vowed to get revenge on Ripley and take her Women’s World Title from her. She spent weeks rehabilitating her knee and waiting for the right moment to strike back at Ripley.
Rodriguez finally got her chance on Monday Night Raw, when she surprised Ripley with a crutch attack and challenged her to a title match at Payback. Rodriguez said that she was not afraid of Ripley and that she was ready to prove herself as the best female wrestler in WWE.
Who will walk out of Payback as the Women’s World Champion?
Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez is set to be one of the most anticipated matches at WWE Payback. Both women are fierce competitors who have a lot of pride and passion for their craft. They also have a personal animosity that will add fuel to their fire.
Ripley will look to continue her dominant reign as the Women’s World Champion and cement her legacy as one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time. She will also try to teach Rodriguez a lesson for disrespecting her and attacking her with a crutch.
Rodriguez will look to dethrone Ripley and claim her first singles title in WWE. She will also try to get justice for herself and Liv Morgan, who were both injured by Ripley. She will use her power and resilience to overcome Ripley’s aggression and skill.
Who will walk out of Payback as the Women’s World Champion? Will it be Rhea Ripley or Raquel Rodriguez? Find out on September 2, only on Peacock in the United States or WWE Network everywhere else.
