Rhea Ripley’s Unexpected Move on SmackDown—What’s Her Next Step?

Friday Night SmackDown delivered a major twist as Rhea Ripley, alongside Alexa Bliss and Stephanie Vaquer, scored a decisive victory over Naomi, Giulia, and Roxanne Perez. Ripley sealed the win with a powerful Riptide on Perez, sending a clear message ahead of the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Ripley, a two-time Women’s World Champion, confronted WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in a tense face-off. Ripley admitted she’s never competed in a Money in the Bank match because she’s always been a champion, but she revealed she misses holding the title and is hungry to reclaim her spot at the top..

The six-woman tag match highlighted rising tensions, with Naomi refusing a tag and abandoning her team, leaving Perez vulnerable to Ripley’s finishing move. The Eradicator’s dominance and renewed focus have made her a top favorite as the women’s division heads into one of its most unpredictable events of the year.