WWE star Rhea Ripley drops bombshell on Raw

SPOILER ALERT: The wrestling superstar has made an emotional and “angry” announcement in front of thousands of fans.

Adelaide professional wrestling superstar Rhea Ripley has announced she will be vacating her WWE Women’s World Championship, just weeks after defending it in front of tens of thousands of fans at WrestleMania 40 in the US.

The former Henley Beach High School student made the announcement on WWE Raw today, telling fans she was injured and had been told it would be months before she could perform again.

“I’m stuck on the bench for quite a few months,” she said.

“I've also been informed, I’ve also been told, informed, whatever, I don’t care. I’m flustered OK. I’m angry right now. I’m pissed off right now. You know why? Because I have been told that I need to vacate the one thing that means the most to me, my Women’s World Championship.”

Rhea Ripley defeats Becky Lynch to retain the WWE Women's World Championship during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Picture: WWE

Rhea Ripley celebrates with her family at Optus Stadium in Perth after starring in the Women’s World Championship Match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2024. Picture: WWE

Rumours about Ripley’s health (real name Demi Bennett) have been growing among fans since the lead up to WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania, when she appeared in interviews to appear to be nursing an injured arm.

On-air, the injury is being treated as part of an ongoing storyline and has been attributed by an on-screen attack by rival performer Liv Morgan.

However, the were emotional scenes after Ripley’s announcement as camera’s caught an embrace with her boss Paul “Triple H” Levesque behind the scenes.

Vacating the title means Ripley’s path to becoming the longest reigning women’s champion in WWE history has now closed just months short of Bianca Belair’s 420 day record with the WWE Women’s Championship.

Ripley has held the WWE Women’s World Championship since 378 days after seizing it from industry legend Charlotte Flair in a showstopping performance at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in April last year.

The Adelaide export also made wrestling history in February when she became one of just four women to ever headline a WWE premium event when she starred in front of a home country crowd at Perth’s Optus Stadium.