Rhea Ripley experienced a whirlwind weekend recently, first losing the women’s tag team titles on Friday Night SmackDown in Louisville, and then traveling to Chicago to win the Elimination Chamber match the following day. This victory secured her a spot in the women’s championship match at WrestleMania 42, where she will challenge Jade Cargill for the title. However, this new singles pursuit raises questions about the future of her partnership with Iyo Sky.
Ripley openly addressed their current situation during an interview on WWE Now, confirming that their tag team efforts will be paused as she prioritizes her individual career once again.
Rhea Ripley Reflects on Her Deep Connection with Iyo Sky
Ripley emphasized the strong bond and mutual respect they share, regardless of changes in their wrestling paths. She said,
“There’s always been respect between Iyo and I, no matter what we were doing, and moving forward the respect will still be there. Obviously I want to be there for her through whatever she’s going through and whatever comes, and I know that she’s got my back with everything that’s going to be coming in my direction as well with SmackDown and Jade. But I also can’t read the future. Obviously the tag team stuff might have to be put on hold for a little bit. But whatever she is doing, I’m still going to be there for her and vice versa. I don’t know, it’s kind of sad to think about because I feel like Iyo has kind of been in my life here in the WWE over the past like, what, year-and-a-half? We’ve been pretty much inseparable whether we’ve been facing each other or we’ve been tagging together, just like growing that bond. I’ve seen her family betray her, she’s seen my family betray me. We’ve been there, and we’ve helped each other through everything. She’s kind of been the one to pull me out of that dark place where I didn’t trust anyone. I didn’t think that friends were real. I didn’t think that I could form a bond with anyone and trust anyone. And then there’s Iyo being a little ray of sunshine that you just can’t help but to love.” – Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
She also acknowledged the emotional difficulty of this transition, adding,
“Yeah, it’s going to be weird. It’s going to be very, very weird. I can’t tell exactly what’s going to happen but if she ever needs me I’m going to be there and vice versa, I know she’s got my back through thick and thin.” – Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Impact on the Women’s Tag Team Division and Future Outlook
This pause in their collaboration marks a significant change for the women’s tag team division in WWE, leaving fans concerned about the division’s current state. The duo’s close-knit relationship and shared struggles made them a prominent pair, often seen supporting one another through personal and professional setbacks.
With Ripley set to challenge Jade Cargill for the women’s championship at WrestleMania 42, her focus is firmly on singles competition, leaving the duo’s tag team future uncertain. As Ripley aims for singles gold, Iyo Sky’s own plans remain to be seen, though Ripley’s commitment to their personal support remains unwavering despite the hiatus.
This development highlights the ongoing evolution in WWE’s women’s division, emphasizing individual ambitions and the complexities of balancing tag team and solo careers.
