Evolution 2025 is fast approaching, with WWE putting forth their second ever all-women’s premium live event on July 13 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The show will see stars from NXT, the present-day main roster, and legends, with matches including Tiffany Stratton vs. Trish Stratus, Naomi vs. Jade Cargill, and others. When looking ahead to Evolution, there is one match in particular that WWE must take extreme care with, and that is the Women’s World Championship clash between Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. For the betterment of the women’s division, WWE must be bold and have Sky retain her title.
At Evolution, Iyo Sky Defends The Women’s World Title Against Rhea Ripley
- Sky dethroned Ripley on the Road to WrestleMania
- She defended the title in a triple threat at WrestleMania 41
- Sky selected Ripley as her Evolution opponent
2025 has seen Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley find their paths crossing multiple times. On the Road to WrestleMania 41, Sky pursued the Women’s World Championship, upsetting Ripley with a shock win on Monday Night RAW, turning the world title picture on its head. This led to a three-way rivalry involving Sky, Ripley, and Bianca Belair. At WrestleMania 41, Sky overcame the odds and retained her title, carrying it forwards as she continued to build momentum, shine in the ring, and remain very over with the WWE audience. In the lead up to Evolution, Iyo Sky was granted the chance to select her challenger.
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Rhea Ripley had already declared her interest in becoming the Women’s World Champion again, remaining in and around Sky in recent months. Sky, being the fearless and fighting babyface champion she is, selected Ripley for Evolution. Some of the reaction to this included eye rolls among fans, who were not all too impressed with the fact that Ripley was once again in the world title picture. In fact, despite Ripley only having a 56-day reign in 2025, she has been involved in all five of the Women’s World Title matches that have taken place this year. The next match between Sky and Ripley must feature a bold booking call from WWE, and there are various reasons as to why.
|
2025 Women’s World Championship Matches |
Event |
|---|---|
|
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley |
WWE RAW Netflix Premiere |
|
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Nia Jax |
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 01/25/2025 |
|
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Iyo Sky |
WWE RAW 03/03/2025 |
|
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley |
WWE RAW 03/31/2025 |
|
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair |
WWE WrestleMania 41 Sunday |
Iyo Sky Must Defeat Rhea Ripley And Retain Her Championship
- Iyo Sky has been WWE’s best women’s wrestler of the year
- She deserves an even longer reign as Women’s World Champion
- She should not lose the gold yet
Rhea Ripley is arguably WWE’s biggest female star today and is consistently over with the WWE fanbase. However, Iyo Sky must win at Evolution. Ever since 2023, Iyo Sky has been the absolute highlight of the women’s division in WWE, always being relied upon in the ring, in storylines, and always working hard to make the most out of any situation. It feels as though she has still yet to truly get the respect she deserves in WWE. For instance, Sky has yet to headline a WWE premium live event, even though she was in two standout women’s matches at back-to-back WrestleManias. WWE must continue to reward her, and they must do so with yet another statement victory over Rhea Ripley.
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The women’s division is better with Sky on top, and that should not change just yet. There are still several feuds and matches that fans want to see from her reign, especially since things have been slow on the defenses front since WrestleMania. Sky vs. Asuka, Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer, and Sky vs. Becky Lynch are all potential avenues that WWE have yet to explore when it comes to the championship. Abandoning what is the hottest run of her career thus far for yet another Ripley reign could be damaging for her at this point.
Fans May Reject A Rhea Ripley Victory
Ripley Shouldn’t Win The World Title Again Yet
- There have been some reservations about Ripley in the title scene
- She should be in some more non-title feuds on Raw
- Ripley needs a character change before a world title push
Another big reason why WWE must make the bold decision of Sky retaining is to ensure that fans do not turn on Rhea Ripley. The online sentiment has certainly been changing in recent months, with some tiring of the fact that Ripley is constantly being featured in the world title picture, taking spots from others. At this present moment in time, Ripley is an established name and doesn’t need the championship to succeed, and she should instead be used to elevate those elsewhere in the division with non-title programs and feuds.
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Additionally, Ripley’s babyface character has lacked depth in 2025, and her current iteration is not ready to be champion again. She needs a storyline or two that can bring the best out of her, nail down a definitive persona, and then build her back up to title contention down the line. Evolution needs to be Iyo Sky’s night, not Rhea Ripley’s.