The March 3 episode of Monday Night RAW featured a hugely shocking moment as Iyo Sky dethroned Rhea Ripley to become the brand new Women’s World Champion, cementing her place at WrestleMania 41 against number one contender Bianca Belair. The WWE Universe were surprised as Ripley’s reign came to an end, just a couple months after it began. With the Road to WrestleMania 41 heating up, this title change has come at a good time for Rhea Ripley, who has desperately needed something fresh for her character. In recent months, things have slowed down for Ripley in terms of momentum, and this loss can now do wonders for her character.
Iyo Sky Shocked The World By Beating Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley Lost The Women’s World Title
- Fans didn’t expect Ripley to lose her championship on Raw.
- Rhea Ripley only won the gold against Liv Morgan a little while ago.
- Fans were initially disappointed that Iyo Sky wasn’t involved in the world title scene at WrestleMania 41.
Heading into the Elimination Chamber 2025 premium live event, fans were frustrated over Iyo Sky’s lack of a presence inside the Chamber match, with many picking her as the right competitor to challenge Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 41. In what many thought was a consolation, Rhea Ripley handed Iyo Sky a championship match on the March 3 episode of Monday Night RAW, also partly as an apology to Ripley inadvertently costing her a spot in the Chamber initially. Fans assumed Ripley would simply retain and then go on to face the winner of the Chamber match, Bianca Belair, in a highly anticipated singles bout.
Related
WWE Just Saved Jade Cargill’s Run With The Company
Jade Cargill was struggling ever since coming to WWE, but her attack on Naomi at Elimination Chamber finally got it right.
However, WWE swerved fans with an unexpected direction, and it may have been the best choice for Rhea Ripley’s current character. Thanks to some minor ringside distraction from Belair, Ripley took her eye off the ball, allowing Iyo Sky to reverse an elevated Riptide, before hitting her moonsault finisher to score the shock victory, winning the Women’s World Championship and turning the Road to WrestleMania 41 upside down for the title picture. This has not only added some excitement and unpredictability, but it has opened up an opportunity for Ripley.
Rhea Ripley’s Character Has Been Cold As A Babyface
Rhea Ripley’s Star Power Has Dropped
- Ever since her babyface turn, Ripley’s character has slowly got worse.
- Rhea Ripley lacks depth as a “good guy” in WWE.
- Ripley’s never-ending feud with Liv Morgan badly hurt her momentum.
Although Rhea Ripley is universally popular when she enters an arena, it feels as though something has been missing. As a dominant, sometimes sadistic heel, Ripley had so much charisma, attitude, and aura. Ever since her babyface turn, which needed to happen due to her natural popularity, Ripley has lost a lot of personality. The storyline between Ripley and Liv Morgan dragged on for many months and was very predictable, with Ripley presented as someone unstoppable, but lacking in anything that made her stand out as a personality. Her promos have lacked substance, and overall her momentum had subsided, even after beating Morgan at RAW’s Netflix premiere to once again become Women’s World Champion.
Related
John Cena’s Heel Turn Is The Perfect Final Arc To His Career
No one saw John Cena turning on Cody Rhodes coming, but it’s exactly what he needed for his last year in WWE.
Everything was very much “by the book” with Ripley, and she has been struggling with something that many former cool heels struggle with when turning babyface, as much of what made fans like her had been stripped away. The complete lack of depth compared to many of the top stars in WWE was taken away from her as a champion, so making her lose the championship in a shock moment is absolutely for the best. In fact, we are already beginning to see a fresh take on Ripley, as she cut a distraught post-match promo that was posted on WWE’s social media. This showed a sign of things to come for Rhea Ripley.
The Women’s World Title Scene, And Rhea Ripley, Will Finally Have Depth
WWE’s Women’s Division Has Been Desperate For Fresh Faces
- Ripley can grow as a character by working with different names.
- Rhea Ripley’s character can improve by having to face adversity.
- Ripley can fight to get back into the world title scene and find more aggression.
Rhea Ripley’s backstage interview saw her struggle with confidence, damn herself for being foolish, being too “nice” by handing Iyo Sky a title shot, and struggling to come to terms with the fact that she no longer had friends surrounding her on Monday Night RAW. Ripley wasn’t her usual confident self, and instead showcased a whole load of depth that had been missing from her recent feuds and performances.
Related
Rhea Ripley’s Body Transformation Over The Years, Told In Photos
Rhea Ripley’s physique has evolved over the years as her star has grown in WWE. These photos are an effective way of seeing that transformation.
WWE can go multiple ways with Ripley, which makes the Road to WrestleMania for the Women’s World Championship way more exciting than many initially expected. Ripley can find herself and become more dominant, dangerous, and focused, bringing back the badass persona many loved without the need for pandering. Or Ripley can become a more sympathetic babyface, struggling with her emotions and battling self-doubt and demons. Either way, Ripley can likely pull it off, but it gives fans a reason to care about what Ripley is doing on weekly programming. A triple-threat match feels inevitable for WrestleMania 41, but it may be one of the most unpredictable matches on the card.