Women's Wrestling Wrap-Up: Rhea Ripley Relinquishes WWE Women's World Title, NXT Spring Breakin' Preview, Zayda Steel Interview (2024)

Rhea Ripley relinquishes the WWE Women’s World Championship. Roxanne Perez prepares to defend the WWE NXT Women’s Championship. Zayda Steel chats with WrestleZone, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up.

Rhea Ripley Vacates WWE Women’s World Championship

Nine days after WrestleMania 40 night one, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley shared some unfortunate news about the status of her title.

On WWE RAW, Ripley revealed that due to injury, she would be forced to relinquish the WWE Women’s World Championship. And as a result, WWE will now crown a new champion on next week’s episode of RAW.

During her championship address, Ripley noted that her injury stemmed from a backstage attack at the hands of Liv Morgan. In the respective assault, Morgan launched a chair at Ripley before slamming her into the walls at the Wells Fargo Center. Reports later indicated that Ripley sustained an AC Joint sprainafter she was thrown into the wall. The timeline of Ripley’s recovery is currently unknown, as much is dependent on whether Ripley will need physical therapy or not.

Naturally, many WWE fans were disappointed with the news of Ripley’s title vacation. Liv Morgan, on the other hand, sees it as karmic justice.

“I feel like I’m walking around back here and everyone is mad at me. And for what?” Morgan told WWE RAW backstage interviewer Cathy Kelley. “I’m not the bad guy here. Where was the sympathy for me when Rhea literally tore my shoulder out of my sock and put me on the shelf for eight months? Oh, yeah, there wasn’t any. So you know what? An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A shoulder for a shoulder. This is karma at its very finest. Rhea got exactly what she deserved. Do you want to know what the best part is? This isn’t the end of the Liv Morgan Revenge tour. No, this is just the beginning, because the end is Liv Morgan as your women’s world champion.”

RELATED: 5 Superstars Who Could Challenge for WWE Women’s World Title

Triple Threat WWE NXT Women’s Title Match Set

On April 23, WWE NXT will host night one of its Spring Breakin’special. So far, two women’s matches have been confirmed, in addition to a unique contract signing between Natalya and Lola Vice. Earlier this week, Natalya challenged Vice to an NXT Underground match on night two of Spring Breakin’, which is scheduled for April 30. As such, Natalya and Vice will soon meet in a contract signing to officialize their Underground match.

Elsewhere on the card, newly-crowned WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez will defend her title against not one, but two competitors. This title match comes on the heels of Perez’s successful title defense over the veteran performer Natalya. Looking ahead to Spring Breakin’, though, Perez faces an elevated challenge as she battles Tatum Paxley and the former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. This will mark Paxley’s first-ever televised NXT Women’s Championship match.

In non-title competition, Sol Ruca will collide with Blair Davenport in a Beach Brawl (No Disqualification Match). Davenport previously took Ruca out of action (in kayfabe) for ten months after attacking her in the NXT parking lot.

RELATED: Roxanne Perez Is Glad She’s Able To Develop Her Character Work In WWE NXT

INTERVIEWS

“The Real Deal” Zayda Steel spoke with WrestleZone‘s Ella Jay about her continued feud with Brittnie Brooks, the upcoming Uprising 2 event, her aim to win the DREAMWAVE Women’s Championship, working with Emi Sakura and Miyu Yamash*ta, and more.

WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez chatted SEScoops about her recent change in character, her relationship with Cora Jade, her main roster dream opponents, and more.

AEW’s Mariah May appeared on Ring The Belle to talk about her run in STARDOM that put her on the map, Club Venus with Mina Shirakawa, joining AEW, and her special relationship with Toni Storm, and more.

Former TNA Knockouts Brooke Adams spoke with PWMania about her venture into the real estate business, the possibility of returning to television, her history with ECW, praise for Deonna Purrazzo, and more.

Wrestling broadcaster McKenzie Mitchell joined The Bob Culture Podcast to talk about her role as Scarlett Sublime on The Last Match: A Pro Wrestling Rock Musical, the national tour, wrestling fashion, NXT, The Cleveland Browns, and more.

Read More: Brooke Adams In Talks About Reality Show, Says She Sells Exotic Cats And Houses

UPCOMING EVENTS

Uprising Women Athletes: Uprising 2

All Elite Wrestling: Dynasty

TNA Wrestling: Rebellion