Rhea Ripley battling back injury has become a significant concern after she disclosed that lingering pain nearly forced her to miss WrestleMania 41. The popular WWE superstar opened up about the ongoing issues, which started years ago following a painful in-ring accident in NXT, and described just how close she came to stepping away from one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Persistent Back Problems Threaten Ripley’s Career Highlights
Rhea Ripley, known to fans as “The Eradicator,” is recognized as one of the Stamford-based company‘s most prominent female superstars. Earlier this year, Ripley faced off against Bianca Belair and IYO SKY in a high-profile Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 41. Despite her performance, she has now revealed that competing at the Show of Shows almost didn’t happen due to an injury that has followed her for years.
During a candid discussion on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, the 28-year-old explained the gravity of her condition. Ripley said the injury stemmed from an incident during her time in NXT when a miscalculated move with Raquel Rodriguez resulted in her landing hard on her lower back. The botched maneuver, involving a back body drop onto the announce table, left Ripley’s back changed ever since.
A Painful Accident in NXT Sparked Long-Term Issues
The initial mishap occurred when Raquel Rodriguez attempted a back body drop that went awry, causing Ripley to strike the edge of the announce table directly on her lower back. She has since noted that her condition never fully healed, creating ongoing complications with regular flare-ups, particularly as major events approached.
Ripley described her injury management routine, stating she works closely with a masseuse named Matthew to address the issues. His expertise includes stretching, realigning her hips, and providing much-needed relief. Ripley credits his help with keeping her in the ring despite the challenges.
“Normally my lower back, especially lately, I don’t know what’s been going on. I think it actually started from the match I had with Raquel in NXT, where she gave me the back body drop onto the announce table, but we undershot it and I hit the very edge of the table, like right on my lower back. After that, my lower back was never the same. But I mean, I do whatever I can to try and make it better. I have a masseuse Matthew come over and he works on it. He helps stretch me out, and puts my hips back in line pretty much, and just fixes all that. And thank God for him that he comes over to help. Because sometimes it gets really bad. I didn’t think that I would be able to wrestle at WrestleMania 41, Rhea Ripley said. [H/T: Insight With Chris Van Vliet]” —Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
This candid account underscores the seriousness of Ripley’s back problems. She stated that some days the pain becomes so severe that she questions her ability to compete, and her participation at WrestleMania 41 was truly in doubt until almost the last minute.
Renewed Rivalry Set for Night of Champions
Despite her ongoing physical struggles, Rhea Ripley’s feud with Raquel Rodriguez shows no signs of slowing down. Over the past few years, Ripley and Rodriguez have shared the ring numerous times, with their last singles contest occurring in December, which ended in Ripley’s favor.
Their contested history gained new intensity when Rodriguez, with the help of Roxanne Perez, put Ripley through a table on a recent episode of RAW. This renewed antagonism has led to a highly anticipated Street Fight scheduled for Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both stars will bring not only their rivalry but significant recent history to the match, as Ripley battles through her persistent injury.
Ripley’s Resilience Resonates with Fans and Peers
Ripley’s willingness to compete through pain and uncertainty elevates her standing among wrestling fans and the broader WWE roster. Her story draws attention to the physical risks WWE superstars undertake, and Ripley’s candor about her injury and recovery process provides insight into the dedication required to perform at the highest level.
The upcoming Street Fight with Raquel Rodriguez carries added significance, given Ripley’s long-term health and the storied nature of their rivalry. Fans, industry colleagues including Chris Van Vliet, Bianca Belair, and Roxanne Perez, and even past collaborators like Matthew the masseuse, are likely to keep a close eye on her appearance at Night of Champions. The outcome may signal both the strength and perseverance that WWE’s most durable superstars must embody to remain at the top.
As WWE continues to feature rivalries such as this and navigates stories of resilience like Rhea Ripley battling back injury, the focus remains on how athletes overcome adversity on the path to championship moments.
