Rhea Ripley shares emotional update after tough Fanatics Fest appearance amid injury recovery

Rhea Ripley, the reigning WWE Women's Champion, admitted the Fanatics Fest lookalike contest left her emotional after struggling to pick a winner among young fans dressed as her.

What happened at Fanatics Fest?

Ripley appeared at Fanatics Fest where a lookalike contest was held in her honor. She was tasked with selecting the best child impersonator but struggled to choose a single winner. After the event, Ripley posted on X: *“I cannot begin to explain how hard it was to pick a winner! 🥹 love all my little Rheas 🖤.”*

Why Ripley’s injury update matters

Ripley revealed details about her meniscus tear during an interview at Power Slap 21 on 18 June. She explained she suffered a slight tear in her meniscus and has been sidelined for over a month. *“I hurt my knee. I’ve got a slight tear in my meniscus so it’s just healing,”* she said. *“It’s getting there but I can’t bend it right now.”*

How Ripley’s return could unfold

Fans have grown concerned about Ripley’s in-ring status since her injury at a house show the week after her Clash in Italy title defense on 18 June. She described ongoing discomfort, noting her knee *“starts to hurt and throb”* and limits movement. Ripley added her recovery pace depends on how fast her body heals.

Ripley’s recent title wins and defenses

Ripley won the 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber match to earn her WrestleMania title shot against Jade Cargill. At WrestleMania, she defeated Cargill with help from IYO SKY, who evened the odds against B-Fab and Michin. Ripley then defended the title in a rematch against Cargill at the Clash in Italy on 18 June.