Rhea Ripley Sets Sights on WrestleMania Championship Dream

Rhea Ripley WrestleMania Challenge
Rhea Ripley confidently accepts WrestleMania Challenge from IYO SKY. [Image Source: CLOUDFRONT]
RAW

On the March 2 episode of WWE Raw, AJ Lee delivered her first in-ring promo as the newly crowned WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Lee appeared determined to move past her rivalry with Becky Lynch and set her sights firmly on WrestleMania. She declared her intentions to be a fighting champion and invited any female competitor interested in a title shot to seize the moment.

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria Strategize to Secure WrestleMania Opportunities

Backstage later in the show, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria shared plans to earn their spots at WrestleMania, with Bayley especially motivated after missing out the previous year. Valkyria suggested Bayley approach Adam Pearce to request a chance to challenge AJ Lee for the Women’s IC Title. Bayley agreed and encouraged Valkyria to also enter the title contention now that Lynch no longer holds the belt. Their conversation was interrupted when Iyo Sky was seen exiting Pearce’s office.

Lyra Valkyria says she can’t watch Bayley miss WrestleMania again and encourages her to challenge AJ Lee for the IC TitleThey go to Adam Pearce’s office and run into Iyo Sky 👀#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/dNif7fcUdj— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) March 3, 2026

Number One Contender Gauntlet Scheduled to Determine Title Challenger

The competition for AJ Lee’s Intercontinental Championship intensified as several women expressed interest in becoming the number one contender. A gauntlet match featuring Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Iyo Sky, Asuka, Ivy Nile, and Raquel Rodriguez is set for next week to decide who will challenge Lee. Earlier on Raw, Liv Morgan encouraged Rodriguez to pursue the IC Title so she could enter WrestleMania as a champion.

Rhea Ripley
Image of: Rhea Ripley

Liv Morgan tells Raquel to go after AJ Lee’s IC title. #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/NRlayANeK2— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) March 3, 2026

Liv Morgan Prepares for WrestleMania Bout Against Stephanie Vaquer

Liv Morgan confirmed her WrestleMania opponent as Stephanie Vaquer through a vignette during the broadcast. Acknowledging her privileged position in WWE, Morgan expressed empathy toward Vaquer’s struggles, noting the difference in their career paths and signaling her readiness to compete on the grand stage.

“I am a STAR” 🌟@YaOnlyLivvOnce is letting @Steph_Vaquer know EXACTLY who she is! pic.twitter.com/bNkKXsK3s2— WWE (@WWE) March 3, 2026

Asuka and Kairi Sane Involved in Heated Exchange

Before AJ Lee’s segment escalated with potential challengers, tensions rose when Asuka verbally confronted Kairi Sane backstage. The exchange featured sharp and rapid dialogue, partly in Japanese, where Asuka criticized Sane’s recent performances and behavior, highlighting friction within the locker room.

ASUKA: “You should’ve been in the Chamber! (in Japanese) You got it? Huh? What?”Kairi Sane: “But…”ASUKA: “(in Japanese) Don’t touch me! Huh? What?”Kairi Sane: “Last week…”ASUKA: “‘Last week’ what?”Kairi Sane: “You said…”ASUKA: “‘You said’ what?”Kairi Sane: “I… pic.twitter.com/AAk5zDMMjX— meraWRESTLING (@meraWRESTLING) March 3, 2026

AJ Lee: “Hey girl! You good? Just blink twice if you need any help or…”ASUKA: “KAIRI!”#WWERaw #KairiSane #ASUKA pic.twitter.com/ByZCfB6QT0— meraWRESTLING (@meraWRESTLING) March 3, 2026

Rhea Ripley Sets Course for WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania

Rhea Ripley appeared live to discuss her WWE Women’s Title shot at WrestleMania after winning the women’s Elimination Chamber. In a heartfelt moment on stage, Ripley said farewell to Iyo Sky, who is moving to SmackDown. Confident in her next chapter, Ripley affirmed her commitment to claim the championship on the big WrestleMania stage and establish herself as a dominant presence on SmackDown.

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Brandie Owens
Brandie Owens
Brandie Owens is a journalist at CynicalTimes.org, specializing in coverage of the WWE Raw Women’s Division. With four years of experience, she provides in-depth reporting on rivalries, title reigns, and standout performances by top female superstars. Brandie brings detailed analysis, accurate updates, and a passion for storytelling to every article. Her coverage highlights the athleticism, drama, and evolution of women’s wrestling on WWE Raw.