The Iyo Sky Rhea Ripley match at Evolution 2025 received widespread praise, with many applauding its performance, including wrestling veteran Bill Apter. Despite his high regard for the bout, Apter highlighted a significant issue that stood out during the match involving the referee.
On a recent episode of The Wrestling Time Machine, host Mac Davis engaged with Bill Apter and WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long, discussing various wrestling topics and shedding light on the women’s division. While Mac Davis had previously been critical, he gave commendation to the female wrestlers this time around.
Bill Apter declared the match a perfect “20/10,” emphasizing how outstanding both Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were. However, his only criticism was the prolonged incapacitation of referee Jessika Carr, which he felt disrupted the flow of the contest.
“Naomi is incredible. The character that she has created of herself with that crazy laugh and that really scary attitude it’s great! The match [Ripley vs Sky], on a 1-10 scale, was a 20. It was that freaking good! It was a classic match. Iyo Sky was also brilliant. The only thing that bugged me was when the referee took the bump; it seemed like forever until she woke up. Why didn’t Adam Pearce send anyone out? The lovely lady referee was out for like six minutes! But that was too long; it was the only part of the match I didn’t like.” —Bill Apter, Wrestling Veteran
Ripley and Sky’s Alliance Gains a New Identity Amid Upcoming Clash
Though Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky will face off at SummerSlam 2025 for the Women’s World Championship, their current partnership remains strong. Ripley has officially named their alliance Rhiyo, sharing the moniker on TikTok alongside a playful caption.
“This is Rhiyo’s bootality 😈🍑,” —Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Following their high-profile Evolution match, Ripley and Sky shared a bittersweet moment, as Ripley has yet to defeat Sky in any televised encounter—a streak ongoing for over five years. Despite this, they share a common rival in Naomi, and their teamwork was evident on the July 21 episode of RAW, where Ripley supported Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer against attacks from Naomi and The Secret Her-Vice.
Future Prospects for Ripley and Sky in the Women’s Division
The dynamics in the women’s division appear to be evolving as SummerSlam approaches. If Ripley and Sky do not secure the Women’s World Title individually, they may follow a path similar to other successful partnerships, such as Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, by forming a strong tag team alliance. Their combined skill sets and existing chemistry suggest that Rhiyo could become a dominant force in the women’s tag team division going forward.
