Rhea Ripley is scheduled to face Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42 after securing her opportunity by winning the 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber match last weekend. This match, however, was not the original plan for WWE’s premier event, as confirmed by insider Cory Hayes of BodySlam.
Initially, WWE intended for Bianca Belair, the EST of WWE, to challenge Jade Cargill, who is a former AEW TBS Champion and Cargill’s former tag team partner. The promotion had hoped Belair would recover from her injury in time, but her continued absence forced WWE to adjust their plans.
“That was always the plan as they were hopeful that Bianca would be healthy. She was supposed to win the Elimination Chamber,” Cory Hayes, BodySlam insider
Injury Delays Bianca Belair’s Return to WWE’s Main Stage
Bianca Belair has been sidelined since last year’s WrestleMania, where she sustained a finger injury during the Women’s World Championship match involving Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. This ongoing recovery has kept her off WWE programming and delayed her anticipated return to headline matches.
Upcoming Confrontation on Friday Night SmackDown Heightens Tensions
As WrestleMania 42 approaches, Ripley is set to appear on the post-Elimination Chamber edition of Friday Night SmackDown, where she is expected to confront champion Jade Cargill. Their feud has intensified following a real-life heated exchange on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting potential chaos during their on-screen segment.
Their interaction could become more personal and contentious, similar to WWE’s past heated build-ups, such as the intense rivalry between Charlotte Flair and then Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton during WrestleMania last year. Fans and insiders alike are watching closely to see how this storyline will escalate in the weeks ahead.
WWE Adjusts Plans as WrestleMania Nears and Return Dates Remain Uncertain
With Bianca Belair still on the road to recovery, WWE has had to pivot and place their championship focus on Ripley versus Cargill. How this shift impacts the overall landscape of the WWE Women’s Championship scene remains to be seen, especially once Belair returns to active competition. The evolving rivalry promises to be a key highlight as WrestleMania draws near.
That was always the plan as they were hopeful that Bianca would be healthy. She was supposed to win the Elimination Chamber https://t.co/KnTBlsfsv2
— Cory of Bodyslam.net (@Cory_Hays407) March 6, 2026
