For the first time in over a year, Rhea Ripley has a singles title.
With some help from her RhIYO teammate IYO SKY, Ripley overcame Jade Cargill to capture the WWE Women’s Championship in the co-main event of Wrestlemania 42 Night 2 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Interference from Cargill allies B-Fab and Michin gave the defending champ an advantage early on. The duo notably prevented Ripley from connecting with a Razor’s Edge at the seven-minute mark, helping Cargill set up for a Sandstorm (One-Winged Angel) moments later.
But, Michin and B-Fab were taken out of the equation when SKY came charging down the ramp, wiping them both out with a springboard moonsault to the outside.
The slick finishing sequence saw Ripley and Cargill counter eachother’s biggest moves: Cargill connected with a Pump Kick after escaping a Riptide. She tried for Jaded, but Ripley rolled out of the move and reversed into a second Riptide attempt for the pinfall win in 10 minutes.
Ripley earned a shot at Cargill by winning this year’s women’s Elimination Chamber match.
Cargill had Smackdown’s top women’s title for nearly 170 days, dethroning Tiffany Stratton on a November edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event to first win the belt. She defended the championship just once during her reign, taking down Jordynne Grace in a singles bout two months back.
