Rhea Ripley vacating the Women’s Championship is best for business

There’s a silver lining in Mami and WWE’s dark cloud.

Rhea Ripley vacated the Women’s World Championship due to an injury in a fiery promo this week on Raw. With her right arm in a sling and anger in her voice, Ripley agreed with the fans in Montreal’s Bell Centre as they chanted, “Bullshit,” in reaction to Ripley surrendering the women’s crown.

Indeed, no one ever wants to see a title reign ended like this, especially one as dominant as Ripley’s, which has seen her become the face of WWE’s women’s division and possibly its next great attraction. While an unfortunate situation, the decision to have Ripley forfeit the Women’s World Championship is anything but bull droppings.

It’s what’s best for business.

However, most may not choose to see it that way, instead opting to point the finger at WWE for allowing Seth Rollins to retain the men’s World Championship while he was on the disabled list or while stars like Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were allowed to take wrestling’s top prize with them into hibernation for months at a time.

At first glance, it’s natural to compare Ripley’s situation to past instances where male champions retained titles despite being injured or absent for extended periods. But upon a deep and further inspection, each decision is determined by circumstances, usually revolving around storytelling and, ultimately, making money.

Unlike Reigns and Lesnar, whose absences were planned and accounted for, Ripley’s upcoming sabbatical was unplanned. The severity of her injury and the duration of her recovery are currently unknown, which also sets her situation apart from Rollins, who suffered a knee injury this past January. Based on his prognosis, WWE was optimistic about Rollins’ return for WrestleMania and decided to keep the World Championship on him to avoid disrupting plans for its signature event.

Ripley’s injury comes when WWE is entering somewhat of a down season after WrestleMania. Despite having several significant events on the horizon, none are as monumental as ‘Mania. If Ripley has to go away, now is the time to do it, especially as WWE faces somewhat of a dilemma in its Raw women’s division.

In the past year, Ripley, as champion, has run through many of WWE’s most prominent performers, including Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Nia Jax. Barring a trade to or from SmackDown, there is no one left for Ripley to have a compelling story with that will help retain or excite viewers, which stands to hurt how Ripley is presented and marketed. And that could disrupt WWE’s bottom line.

But thanks to Ripley’s injury, which WWE is attributing to Liv Morgan, the company will have a hot storyline and a revitalized antagonist for Ripley to overcome upon return, should it choose to put the Women’s title on Morgan. Such a program stands to make dollars and sense after the reaction Morgan received this week.

As Ripley was surrendering her title during an in-ring promo, boos erupted when Morgan’s music played. She gleefully taunted Ripley from a distance while flanked by security as the jeers continued. Morgan, a once celebrated crowd favorite and people-pleaser, acknowledged the fans’ betrayal during an interview later in the show.

“I’m a little bit confused by that reaction,” said the former SmackDown Women’s Champion. “I feel like I’m walking around back here, and everyone is mad at me, and for what? I’m not the bad guy here. Where was the sympathy for me when Rhea literally tore my shoulder out of my socket and put me on the shelf for eight months?”

Since returning from the sidelines, Morgan has gone on a revenge tour, with Ripley at the top of her list. Last week, on -WrestleMania edition of Raw, Mami was attacked by Morgan, which now appears as WWE’s way of writing Ripley off TV. The assault is now part of a storyline that began last year when Morgan was taken off television after Ripley “Pillman-ized” her shoulder as a cover for an injury Morgan sustained in another match.

Assuming Ripley hadn’t been hurt, it stands to reason that she would’ve moved into a feud with Morgan. But such a tale wouldn’t have the spice it does now. Fans swiftly turned against Morgan, a once-celebrated crowd favorite and people-pleaser, based on her behavior on one night. With Ripley gone for an extended period, Morgan will presumably have more opportunities to incite crowds, thus creating increased interest in an inevitable showdown with the Judgment Day goddess.

Despite Ripley’s setback, most people love a thrilling comeback, especially when it means seeing an obnoxious antagonizer get what’s coming to them. If handled well, Ripley’s eventual return and triumph could elevate her to new heights as Morgan and the other women from Raw rebuild, becoming central figures in their division.