WWE has surprised fans by elevating the profiles of IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley through prominent storylines on RAW, highlighting the ongoing feud with The Kabuki Warriors. This fresh booking approach has caught the attention of wrestling veterans and commentators, who praise the company’s direction as it builds anticipation ahead of the upcoming Crown Jewel event in Perth.
Veteran Wrestler Praises WWE’s Storyline Choice for IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley is currently locked in a heated rivalry with The Kabuki Warriors after they launched a brutal attack on her and IYO SKY at the end of last Monday’s RAW episode. The segment concluded with Asuka and a hesitant Kairi Sane taking down both Ripley and SKY, setting off a new chapter in their storyline. The pairing of two former Women’s World Champions in this segment has been widely applauded by veterans of the industry.
Matt Morgan, a wrestling veteran, expressed enthusiasm over the recent creative decisions during his appearance on the Massive Heat podcast. He emphasized that WWE’s writers have skillfully transformed IYO SKY into a rising star by intertwining her story with Rhea Ripley’s. Morgan noted that Ripley’s character has become more relatable and sympathetic due to the ruthless actions taken by The Kabuki Warriors, which has intensified fan support for her.
“Every fan was watching all the backstage skits with IYO trying to be friends with Rhea Ripley, the most popular babyface in the show, the whole company. And she got more popular from that. Not just the interaction, but the fact that she was always being heeled on by her so-called two best friends, especially Assuka, mainly bullying her. … You heard the reaction when she made the save for Rhea tonight. That’s the loudest I’ve heard them chant IYO SKY, if not ever. And it worked because they made her a sympathetic babyface. They wanted to see her kick Asuka’s ass finally. And Asuka’s got all this heat, world of heat. And then bullying Kairi Sane to do all the dirty work, like that’s major heel stuff. Great, great. Whoever wrote this, great job. I don’t know who wrote it. Fantastic job writing this,” Morgan said.
As WWE approaches Crown Jewel in Perth, speculation is growing that the company may officially form a tag team featuring Ripley and IYO SKY to face The Kabuki Warriors. This development would mark a major step in building a compelling narrative for fans to follow in the upcoming pay-per-view.
Concerns Raised Over Rhea Ripley’s Breaking of Kayfabe
The storyline took an unusual turn during RAW when, after being sprayed with blue mist by Asuka, Rhea Ripley was seen breaking kayfabe by smiling and posing for a picture with a young fan still covered in the mist. This moment drew criticism from within the wrestling community, as kayfabe—the portrayal of staged events as real—is a tightly guarded tradition in wrestling storytelling.
Vince Russo, a former WWE creative writer, publicly expressed his disapproval of Ripley’s actions. He urged for the protection of character integrity, specifically of the Mami persona, and even suggested that The Undertaker step in to reinforce the importance of kayfabe preservation. Russo’s stance points to ongoing tensions about how much of wrestling’s scripted reality should be maintained in public settings.
Implications for WWE’s Women’s Division and Upcoming Events
The booking decisions involving IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley reflect WWE’s attempt to deepen character development and enhance emotional engagement within the women’s division. By positioning IYO SKY as a sympathetic figure overcoming bullying and by making Ripley a target of villainous attack, the storylines have intensified fan interest and generated greater crowd reactions, as pointed out by insiders like Matt Morgan.
With Crown Jewel on the horizon, the momentum gained by these narratives could lead to high-stakes matches between the pair and their adversaries from The Kabuki Warriors, potentially raising the profile of the women’s tag team division. How WWE continues to balance dramatic storytelling and kayfabe authenticity will likely influence audience reception and the future trajectory of these characters.
