Why Rhea Ripley Vacated The Women's World Championship, Explained (2024)

For the last couple of years, there have been few WWE superstars who enjoyed such a meteoric rise to the top as Rhea Ripley did. At WrestleMania 39, “The Eradicator” defeated Charlotte Flair to win the SmackDown Women’s Title. The belt was then later rebranded into the Women’s World Championship. The Judgment Day member held the title for 380 days, with successful defenses against Becky Lynch, Ivy Nile, Zelina Vega, and many more. In addition, The Judgment Day was on top after WrestleMania 40, with Ripley as Women’s World Champion and Damian Priest as World Heavyweight Champion. However, this was very short-lived. Due to an attack by Liv Morgan, Ripley sustained an injury that forced her to vacate the Women’s World Title. In her absence, there have been many developments in both the world title picture and in Judgment Day as well.

Rhea Ripley Was Taken Out By Liv Morgan

Rhea Ripley Has A Shoulder Injury

• Liv Morgan injured Ripley during a backstage attack on Raw.
• Rhea Ripley vacated the Women's World Championship on April 15, 2024.
• Rhea Ripley is choosing to rehab her injury.

On April 15, 2024, Ripley came out on RAW wearing a sling. The previous week, she had been attacked by Morgan, who was on the “Liv Morgan Revenge Tour.” She told Ripley that she was going to take away everything that she cared about. Morgan ended up legitimately hurting Ripley’s shoulder. Mami entered the ring and told fans that she had to vacate the championship and needed to take time to heal. Fans were upset to see Ripley have to do that. However, she also made a promise to the fans as well. She said:

This was the last time that WWE fans got to see Ripley live on their televisions. Her last match that she competed in before being injured was at WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship. However, there has been an update on Ripley’s current status. While there is no timetable for her to return to the ring yet, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio:

The Women's World Title Has Changed Hands A Couple Of Times

Liv Morgan Is The Current Women's World Champion

• Becky Lynch won a battle royal to win the title.
• Liv Morgan defeated Lynch to win the Women's World Championship.
• Dominik Mysterio accidentally helped Liv Morgan win.

In Ripley’s absence, WWE announced a battle royal to crown a new Women’s World Champion. On the April 22, 2024, edition of RAW, Lynch was successful in winning the championship and securing her seventh world title in WWE. However, Lynch did not hold the championship for very long. Her reign ended at 33-days after Morgan, with help, intentional or not, from Dominik Mysterio, won the title at King and Queen of the Ring 2024. In a subsequent rematch, Morgan won and retained her title.

This is Morgan's second world title in her WWE career. When Morgan returned to WWE, she was hell-bent on taking away everything that Ripley cared about. She had already taken Ripley out of action. She holds the title Ripley vacated. And now, she is working on stealing away Dominik Mysterio from “Mami” as well.

Liv Morgan Is After Dominik Mysterio

Liv Morgan Has Been Flirting With Dom Dom For Weeks

• Liv Morgan has been trying to get to Dominik Mysterio on Raw.
• Liv Morgan has thrown shots at Rhea Ripley.
• Liv Morgan gave Dominik Mysterio her hotel key card.

For the last couple of months, Morgan has been flirting with Mysterio in a number of different ways. She has also gotten physical with him, such as kissing him after a match and sitting on him after both were knocked off the apron. She even offered Mysterio her hotel key card. Morgan also threw a shot at Ripley. She told Mysterio:

Mysterio has clearly been very conflicted about his feelings throughout the whole situation. He is unsure of what to do and has been placed in a love triangle. One thing that is for certain, however, is that Ripley will definitely have something to say when she is back to 100% and returns to WWE. Morgan is working to take everything that Ripley cares about, and the last part of that plan is Mysterio. It has been one of WWE’s best storylines at the moment and has added more layers to the Judgment Day story arc. Ripley is one of WWE’s biggest names of this era and will continue to be so in the years ahead. Her return will be monumental when it happens.