Rhea Ripley’s WWE return is officially confirmed after a four-week absence from in-ring competition. On the September 23 episode of Monday Night RAW, Ripley made her presence felt backstage and announced her intention to challenge for the Women’s World Championship, signaling her comeback.
RAW Opens with High-Stakes Tension Between Champions
The show began with a confrontational segment featuring Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, intensifying their rivalry ahead of the upcoming Crown Jewel event. Rhodes challenged Rollins by highlighting their match history, amping up anticipation for their next encounter.
“In the three matches that we’ve had, Seth Rollins, how many of those have YOU won?” Cody Rhodes is standing on business tonight! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NR8tvhfRvY
— WWE (@WWE) September 22, 2025
Rhea Ripley Shakes Up Women’s Division with Bold Announcement
Later in the show, RAW General Manager Adam Pearce introduced the WWE Universe to Stephanie Vaquer, the newly crowned Women’s World Champion. Vaquer expressed gratitude for the fans’ support as she celebrated her accomplishment. Backstage, Nikki Bella paid her respects to the champion, but the atmosphere quickly shifted when Rhea Ripley entered and declared her challenge for the title.
The Kabuki Warriors, including Asuka, confronted Ripley, with Asuka taking direct aim at her, which provoked Ripley’s ire. Ripley demanded a resolution to their conflict inside the ring, to which Asuka responded by accepting the challenge without hesitation.
MAMI HAS HAD ENOUGH OF ASUKA! 👿 pic.twitter.com/FUvUwQk1ze
— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2025
Upcoming Bout Marks Ripley’s Return to the RAW Ring
This matchup was officially announced during the broadcast and will be Ripley’s first RAW match since August 25, when she faced Roxanne Perez. Ripley’s return not only disrupts the current women’s division storyline but also sets the stage for a heated rivalry with the Kabuki Warriors as she aims for the Women’s World Championship.
This confirmed return signals a renewed push for Ripley within WWE programming, with fans and commentators eagerly awaiting how her presence will influence upcoming events. Her challenge to Stephanie Vaquer promises to intensify the competition at Crown Jewel and beyond, further elevating the stakes in the women’s division.
"In the three matches that we've had, Seth Rollins, how many of those have YOU won?"
Cody Rhodes is standing on business tonight! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NR8tvhfRvY
— WWE (@WWE) September 22, 2025
MAMI HAS HAD ENOUGH OF ASUKA! 👿 pic.twitter.com/FUvUwQk1ze
— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2025
