Rhea Ripley Says Rivalry with IYO SKY & Belair Is Getting Spicy – The WWE Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 41 has taken a dramatic turn. During the April 7 episode of WWE RAW, Rhea Ripley was officially added to the title bout, transforming what was originally a singles match between IYO SKY and Bianca Belair into a high-stakes Triple Threat.
Ripley’s involvement adds a personal dimension to the storyline. After losing the Women’s World Title to SKY on the RAW following Elimination Chamber — a match in which Belair was visibly rooting for SKY — Ripley’s frustration began to boil over. That moment, Ripley later revealed, became a key turning point in her decision to force her way back into the title picture.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Ripley opened up about her motivations.
“I don’t want to say we’re overlooking IYO, because we’re not. We know that she’s a threat. We know what she’s capable of. Hell, I’ve never beat her in a one-on-one competition. I know exactly what IYO brings to the table,” Ripley said. “I feel like when it comes to me and Bianca, what we’ve been saying over the last two, three, four years is we’ve wanted to face each other at WrestleMania… We’ve wanted it to be a one-on-one thing. Seeing Bianca do that, obviously it hit me in a part of my emotions that have been hurt before by a lot of people, so I acted out.”
Ripley made her intentions clear on the March 31st episode of RAW when she inserted herself into the contract signing between SKY and Belair. She physically took the contract and signed it herself. Later that night, she faced SKY in a one-on-one title rematch with Belair serving as the special guest referee. The match ended in a double disqualification, further intensifying the feud.
Ripley also addressed critics online who question her motivations or role in the evolving storyline.
“The story is getting spicy. I know a lot of people online don’t want to realize what’s going on, because they hate me or whatever it is. People are going to feel whatever they want to feel. I’m not going to argue with 16 year-olds on the internet, but that’s the story. And I mean, going into WrestleMania 41, I feel like, yes, I’m going to be focusing on Bianca, because she screwed me out of my opportunity twice now by being there and wanting to be a part of the spotlight and taking that away from me when she knows how much this opportunity meant to me,” Ripley said.
“Literally, three of the biggest female stars here in WWE are going to go to war. And it’s just going to mesh really, really well.”
The triple threat match now stands as one of the most anticipated showdowns of WrestleMania weekend, bringing together three of WWE’s most accomplished and dynamic female Superstars. Ripley’s intensity, SKY’s unpredictability, and Belair’s athletic dominance are expected to create a standout match on a stacked WrestleMania 41 card.
Rhea Ripley Says Rivalry with IYO SKY & Belair Is Getting Spicy
