WWE superstars Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez share a close friendship outside the ring but are fierce rivals on screen, a rivalry that dates back to their time in WWE NXT. In a recent episode of “Insights with Chris Van Vriette,” Ripley revealed that an early match against Rodriguez caused a lasting injury to her lower back. She explained that during the match, Rodriguez slammed her onto the announcer’s table, where Ripley landed awkwardly, hitting the edge of the table and injuring her right hip. Since then, Ripley says her hips have never fully recovered.
To manage the pain and aid recovery, Ripley has turned to a personal masseuse who helped her prepare for a match at WWE WrestleMania 41 this past April. Ripley has also faced numerous other injuries throughout her career, including breaking her shins during an independent show in Australia and suffering injuries from a fall onto concrete early in her wrestling days. She admitted that the physical risks of wrestling initially made her hesitant, especially after her parents learned she was pursuing the sport.
Most recently, Ripley defeated Rodriguez in a street fight at WWE Night of Champions. Her next challenger is Iyo Sky, with whom she will compete at WWE Evolution for the Women’s World Championship, currently held by Sky. Meanwhile, Rodriguez teams with Roxanne Perez to defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in a competitive four-way match on the same show.
Fan Take: This revealing look into Rhea Ripley’s perseverance through injury highlights the intense physical toll wrestling takes on even the toughest athletes, deepening fans’ appreciation for their grit and determination. As Ripley climbs toward more high-stakes matches, her story adds emotional weight to her title pursuits, making WWE Evolution an unmissable showdown for the sport’s future.
