Tag: rhea ripley

Jade Cargill wanted to wrestle more during WWE Women’s title reign

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Jade Cargill reflected on her WWE WrestleMania 42 showdown with Rhea Ripley, addressing shortcomings in her title reign and outlining ambitions for the future.

In an exclusive with The Takedown on SI, Cargill acknowledged the experience Ripley had with seasoned opponents like Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at earlier WrestleMania events. She emphasized the importance of confidence heading into WrestleMania 42 catapulted her ability to deliver in the bout.

“She can’t go out there and have that stellar match if I don’t put on [a show] as well. Rhea has always had amazing dance partners. She’s worked with Charlotte, she’s worked with Becky… It takes two to tango. I wasn’t nervous last year. I had a match with the great Naomi. I thought we had a superb match in itself. It wasn’t a title match, so obviously it’s not gonna have as much buzz around it, but I don’t think that this was any different. I just had a title. And a title doesn’t make me, I make the title.”

Cargill added that while being the WWE Women’s Champion felt great it did lack in terms of what she had hoped for and wishes she had wrestled more. She identified it as a practice run for her next reign. 

“I wanted to wrestle more. I wanted more competitive matches. I wanted more grit. I really wanted to sink my teeth into whatever was being thrown at me. That’s all I wanted with my reign, but we didn’t get that as much as I wanted, and that’s fine. But now that I had a practice run, I’m gonna call it a practice run, I’m gonna say next time is gonna be totally different.” 

Cargill described that she has often been surrounded by superstars and revisited her AEW debut match where she teamed up with Shaquille O’Neal against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet. 

“I’ve been around superstars my entire life. That first match [in AEW], I was working with Cody Rhodes, and I was working with Shaquille O’Neal. Something that always sticks with me is that I asked [Shaq] if he was nervous. He was like, ‘Nervous? I can go out there, I could trip, fall, whatever. I’m still gonna be me. I’m still a star.'”

Cargill won the WWE Women’s Championship at SNME in November 2025 from Tiffany Stratton. Reports indicated that the title change was influenced by Stratton’s knee injury that required her to take some time off. Her first title defense took place on the February 13 edition of SmackDown.

Ripley set her sights on the championship after Elimination Chamber victory. This sparked a social media exchange that escalated into their rivalry for WrestleMania 42 where Ripley ended Cargill’s nearly 170 day title reign. 

Jade Cargill on WWE WrestleMania 42 match: ‘I think we did a stellar job’

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Jade Cargill faced Rhea Ripley for the first time at WrestleMania 42, where Ripley captured the WWE Women’s Championship, ending her 169-day reign.

Speaking with 8 News Now — Las Vegas, Cargill reviewed her WrestleMania 42 performance. She commended the match and her entrance at the WWE Premium Live Event. Cargill cited she dwelled in the hate that fans have for her and is adamant on getting a rematch for the WWE Women’s Championship. 

“You know what? It’s okay, because I’m going to get my revenge and get that rematch.”

“I’ve never been featured on Night Two, I’ve always been on Night One so this is my first time on Night Two, I think we did a stellar job. I think my entrance was amazing. I think the energy at Allegiant Stadium was electric,” said Cargill. 

“It was cool, I liked it. The crowd was coming for me, they hated me, I love that for me. Keep hating me. But it was cool, I really liked it, the atmosphere was amazing. Okay, I didn’t deliver, but I’m going to get that rematch.”

WrestleMania 42 marked Cargill’s third appearance at the PLE, while Ripley competed for the seventh time in a row. Michin and B-Fab interfered in the title match on Cargill’s behalf but their plans unraveled when IYO SKY ran out to aid Ripley. 

During the bout, Cargill used a move synonymous with Kenny Omega, the One Winged Angel. However, in WWE the commentators referred to it as the Sandstorm. Later, Omega acknowledged and responded to the move being used after it sparked major buzz on social media.

Rhea Ripley wins WWE Women’s title at WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With IYO SKY helping to even the odds, Rhea Ripley ascended back to the top of the women’s division at WWE WrestleMania 42.

Night two of the event saw Ripley defeat Jade Cargill to become the new WWE Women’s Champion. The match contained interference with Michin and B-Fab — who formed a new faction with Cargill on the road to WrestleMania — trying to help Cargill retain. But Ripley got help from her tag team partner SKY, who took out Michin and B-Fab with a moonsault leading into the finish.

Ripley hit a headbutt and went for Riptide after SKY neutralized the heel interference. Cargill was able to slip out, hit a kick, and go for Jaded — but Ripley escaped and then delivered Riptide for the win. After the match, Ripley and SKY celebrated together with Ripley thanking SKY for having her back.

The result means Ripley, who had been on Raw, is now officially moving over to SmackDown as she becomes the brand’s champion.

At 29 years old, Ripley has now already competed at seven WrestleManias, owning victories over the likes of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Asuka, and Cargill. WWE President Nick Khan had high praise for Ripley ahead of WrestleMania, saying she’ll be one of the faces of the company for years to come.

Rhea Ripley addresses eating disorder struggles 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Rhea Ripley’s physique transition was a highly discussed topic among social media in recent weeks. Ripley responded to a fitness influencer’s Instagram post questioning her training impacting muscle mass. She commented that it was an eating disorder which she was working to control. 

Speaking on Pod Meets World Ripley addressed the social media environment that disturbs her peace at times. She discussed the mental toll it takes on her but has a strong backing in her husband Buddy Matthews, close friends and her dogs. 

“It goes through waves where it’s really difficult and then sometimes really easy. This past year has been really difficult because I find that if my circle at home isn’t at peace, then that’s when I really struggle. That’s why I try to surround myself with people that I know are there for me and care for me. That’s my strong point. My husband [Buddy Matthews] is my strong point. My dogs are my strong point. My friend Tommy, who is always at our house every day, he’s my strong point. We work out together and it’s a positive environment. It’s really hard going onto Twitter. I need to delete that. It’s hard going on and trying to make it a work environment, but then, because it is a work environment, I get all these things coming up on my For You page. As soon as I click on the app, it’s negative towards me. I can’t even escape it or doomscroll like a normal human without seeing things about me, about my body, about my booking, about me as a human, even though they don’t know who the hell I am. It does get really tiring, but that’s also why I like to share what I’m going through.”

Ripley explained she had no intention of making her eating disorder public, but felt that if she could help someone in a similar situation, it was worth sharing. Ripley had a response for social media users claiming her transition was due to back pain and going off steroid use – that wrestlers get tested and she was not consuming anything of the sort.

“I tried to keep the whole eating disorder quiet for a while because I’m still figuring it out. I try to be as vocal with my struggles as possible because if it’s going to help someone, then why not talk about it? I needed that when I was going through stuff as a kid. If I knew my idols were going through these struggles and they are powering through and being amazing, and I look up to them and think they are strong and larger than life, then I can get through it too. That’s why I’m vocal about what I’m going through. With this whole eating situation, it definitely stems from stress and not being in control. That’s my biggest thing. I’m a very in control person. I like being in control of a lot of things. When I can’t control work and my schedule, and at the time, my home life with one of my now ex-friends just terrorizing my life,” said Ripley. 

“Going to Australia and not being able to control how the crowd responds to my peers and pressuring them 24/7 and getting thrown into all this media for that, it was a lot all at once, and it kind of broke me for a little bit, but it wasn’t seen by everyone yet. Now, it’s being seen by everyone. I saw so many things. ‘She had to lose weight because of her back pain.’ ‘She’s off the roids.’ We get tested. I’m not on anything.”

Ripley has often called out fan behaviour on social media. Last year, there was an incident of fan mail sent to her home, despite her specifically stating she does not approve of it. During WWE’s Paris tour, Ripley was mobbed by fans wanting autographs and photos, she took to X with a stern message about common courtesy and how wrestlers are people too. 

Ripley will compete in her seventh WrestleMania match this weekend as she faces Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship.

WWE President Nick Khan praises Rhea Ripley

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nick Khan believes Rhea Ripley will be one of the faces of WWE for years to come.

While being interviewed on The Bill Simmons Podcast before WrestleMania 42, Khan was asked who he thinks WWE’s biggest star will be in 2033. The first name the WWE President pointed to was Ripley, who is only 29 years old right now as she enters her seventh WrestleMania.

“I think there’s a shot for a couple people, I think. Keep in mind Rhea is in her late 20s, Rhea Ripley,” Khan said. “She’s amazing. She has a chance. She’s already up there.”

Ripley will be in one of the top matches at WrestleMania 42 night two this Sunday, where she is challenging Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship. The match has a high standard to live up to after Ripley helped steal the show at WrestleMania 41 in a triple threat with IYO SKY and Bianca Belair.

Khan also listed Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, Oba Femi, and Trick Williams as options for WWE’s top star in 2033.

“I’m high on Logan Paul. He’s good, dude. And by the way, he puts in the work,” Khan said. “I’m high on Bron. We cannot rush it, though. Gotta sort of let him develop at his own pace. And he’s an excellent athlete who obviously grew up in the wrestling business, but let it develop at its own pace, which we’re all on the same page about.

“I think all three of those. Oba is an obvious one. I’m high on Trick. I like the fact that he’s an SEC athlete. I like the fact that he sort of inherently understands media. I like the fact — I always look for people whose inner voice matches their outer voice. I look for that in wrestlers. I look for it in political people. You know, if your inner voice matches your outer voice, you have a shot. Trick Williams is Trick Williams. So I like that.”

Rhea Ripley says Giulia ‘hasn’t been given many big opportunities in WWE yet’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Weeks after facing Giulia on WWE SmackDown, Rhea Ripley has now shared her thoughts on Giulia’s current WWE run.

Speaking to Shak Wrestling, Ripley opened up and believed that, despite Giulia’s years of experience, she has not yet been given big opportunities in WWE.

“You go back, and you watch my match with Giulia. Giulia is new to the main roster, but she’s been at this for a long time. But she hasn’t been given many big opportunities in WWE yet. Yes, she might be the [United States] Champion, but she also hasn’t been given long matches on the main roster and that spotlight to really show that she can shine,” Ripley said.

A two-time WWE Women’s United States Champion, Giulia currently finds herself excluded from the WrestleMania 42 card. In the same interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, Ripley claimed that she wanted to “bust her a**” and make Giulia look good.

“So I’m gonna go out there, I’m gonna bust my ass, and try and make her look good. And hopefully that opens up some more opportunities,” Ripley concluded.

While Giulia has no scheduled WrestleMania 42 match to her name, Ripley is set to face Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship.

Who needs to get a win at WWE WrestleMania 42? | Opinion

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

It is finally WrestleMania week as WWE takes over Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

While nearly every WrestleMania 42 match carries some kind of significance, some outcomes will have a far greater impact than others. Here’s who I think needs a win the most on this year’s back-to-back cards.

Liv Morgan over Stephanie Vaquer for the WWE Women’s World Championship

Morgan’s rivalry with Vaquer has evolved into one of the most personal feuds on the card.

Morgan’s women’s Royal Rumble victory was widely viewed as overdue recognition for her contributions to the women’s division. Her eventual decision to challenge Vaquer, after being questioned about her work ethic, added a layer to the storyline.

Vaquer moved up to the main roster and won the title at Evolution last year. She initially drew fans’ support, but the limited title defenses and lack of engaging storylines became stale.

A WrestleMania victory would not only validate Morgan’s resurgence but also solidify her third reign as Women’s World Champion.

Randy Orton achieves his goal of a 15th World title

For Randy Orton, the mission is simple: win world title No. 15.

After falling short against John Cena last year, he now finds himself across the ring from Cody Rhodes—his former protege and friend. Their shared history has added depth to the build, particularly following Orton’s brutal contract signing attack.

Rhodes’ reign has been successful, but a bit formulaic. Orton winning here would not only achieve that goal, but would freshen up the main event scene and hopefully Rhodes afterward.

Oba Femi destroys Brock Lesnar

Femi vacated his NXT Championship in December 2025, and made his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble. He demonstrated dominance over the next few weeks on Raw and SmackDown and then responded to Brock Lesnar’s open challenge for WrestleMania 42.

Getting a win over someone of Lesnar’s stature at a platform like WrestleMania 42 in a dominant fashion would really accelerate Femi’s WWE career and help him become part of wrestling history. 

‘The Demon’ teaches Dominik Mysterio a lesson

From a familial bond to becoming enemies in the ring, the tension between Finn Balor and Mysterio had been brewing for a long while now with Mysterio’s constant critic of Balor’s inability to win the World Title as a big part of it.

The return of his iconic entrance theme and presentation associated with the Demon moniker has elevated the hype. The last time the character made an appearance was at WrestleMania 39 for his Hell in a Cell match against Edge and a lot has happened to both men since then.

During his time in the Judgment Day, it felt as though his run was being muffled. A win at WrestleMania 42 will hopefully revert him back to the destined push/opportunities he missed out in recent years.

Seth Rollins ends Gunther’s streak as the ‘career killer’ 

The unexpected buildup for Gunther and Seth Rollins for WrestleMania may have felt a bit rushed storyline-wise, but both stars are prominent enough to warrant a spot on the WrestleMania card. The two have a brief history when they collided in the semifinals for the World Heavyweight Championship in 2023. 

A victory for Rollins at Mania, especially with odds stacked against him and Gunther’s possible alliance with Heyman, would make for a compelling outcome. 

Rhea Ripley dominates the championship picture again in 2026

Since winning the the WWE Women’s title in November 2025, Cargill has defended it just once, that being in February. This led to concern from some fans regarding her in-ring capabilities and future as champion.

Going into their feud at WrestleMania, Ripley has earned the fans’ sympathy and support, especially with Cargill’s new alliance with B-Fab and Michin. Although she has IYO SKY in her corner, it might not be enough for Ripley to counter the numbers advantage for ‘Mania. 

But Ripley winning the title and officially moving to the SmackDown brand would re-establish her dominance, and shift her back into the singles spotlight. It would also prove beneficial for Sky’s future as a singles competitor after their tag team run.

Jacob Fatu sustains momentum

Fatu witnessed a rapid ascent since walking away from Solo Sikoa’s side of the Bloodline fence and on his own.

In January, he interrupted Drew McIntyre’s WWE Title match with Cody Rhodes which cost him the championship. McIntyre vowed revenge ever since and the two have continued their feud which only escalated in March, hence the unsanctioned match this weekend.

Fatu is being cemented as a top tier star in WWE. A marquee win over someone credible as McIntyre would benefit his career while a loss would weaken the dominant presentation WWE has been building up for Fatu. 

On the other hand, for McIntyre, a talent who has competed in consistent main events in his career, a potential loss would serve as a catalyst for a character evolution. It could also push for a more unhinged and unpredictable direction. 

New match added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss has now also been added to SmackDown tonight.

Both are set to compete in the Women’s Tag Team title match at WrestleMania 42, where Nia Jax & Lash Legends will defend against Charlotte Flair & Bliss, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and The Bella Twins.

**********

Rhea Ripley will be on WWE SmackDown tonight just over a week away from WrestleMania 42.

Night two of WrestleMania on April 19 will see Ripley challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship. Tonight, they’ll continue the build to their match with Ripley addressing Cargill’s attack on IYO SKY from Monday’s Raw. A tag match took place on that show with Ripley & SKY defeating B-Fab & Michin — but the heels then got the upper hand as Cargill beat down SKY with a kendo stick as Ripley was forced to watch.

“On Monday Night Raw, Jade Cargill viciously attacked IYO SKY, as Michin and B-Fab held back her close friend Rhea Ripley,” WWE.com wrote.

“Following this brutal assault, The Eradicator will address the WWE Women’s Champion as she readies herself to challenge The Storm at WrestleMania, tonight on SmackDown at 8 ET/7 CT on USA.”

The SAP Center in San Jose, California is hosting SmackDown tonight. After aligning with Randy Orton last week, Pat McAfee has teased that he has a “massive surprise” to announce.

WWE SmackDown (Friday, April 10) —

  • Pat McAfee addresses the WWE Universe
  • Drew McIntyre promises to expose the real Jacob Fatu
  • Rhea Ripley addresses Jade Cargill’s attack on IYO SKY
  • Sami Zayn is out for payback on Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
  • Royce Keys makes his SmackDown debut
  • Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss

Report: SmackDown champion expected to appear on Monday’s WWE Raw

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

A SmackDown champion is anticipated to make an appearance on Raw tonight following last week’s events. 

According to PWInsiderElite.com, Jade Cargill is slated to make an appearance on the upcoming episode of Raw.

Cargill will defend the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42. Additionally, her newly formed alliance with Michin and B-Fab altered the powerplay in her favor. 

On the April 3 edition of SmackDown, Ripley faced Michin in a singles bout. That came to an abrupt halt with B-Fab and Cargill’s attack on her. While Cargill was setting Ripley up to hit her signature Jaded move, IYO Sky rushed to the ring to assist her former tag team partner. 

After Ripley’s Elimination Chamber win, targeting Cargill’s title for WrestleMania 42 she switched brands from Raw to SmackDown. WrestleMania 42 marks Ripley’s seventh consecutive match at the Premium Live Event and Cargill’s first. 

Meanwhile, Sky is involved in a feud with The Kabuki Warriors on Raw. There is a new threat on the horizon after she cost Raquel Rodriguez her match against Stephanie Vaquer on the March 16 edition of Raw. This led to a singles match between Sky and Rodriguez on the March 23 episode.

Jade Cargill says Rhea Ripley was not her first choice for WWE WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Barely four years after her first pro wrestling match, Jade Cargill is set to face Rhea Ripley in one of the premiere matches at WrestleMania 42. But Ripley was not her first choice for a Mania opponent, and she claims that Ripley had more help getting to this point than she did.

Cargill shared her thoughts in an an appearance on the Joe Budden Podcast. First, she was asked if she would rather be facing Charlotte Flair instead of Ripley.

“It was just, we’ve always teased Charlotte Flair since day one,” she said. “And every time I had a face-to-face with this girl, we got a huge reaction. I’ve had maybe two face-offs with Rhea. The reaction, it was a total difference in reaction here. I would think that we’ll build more to Rhea because we don’t have history. Not saying Charlotte and I have history, but there’s been more of a reaction with Charlotte and I having attitude and yelling at each other than that.”

Cargill conceded that she does understand why Ripley is getting the match now: “I believe the reason why we went this route is because it’s more money that’s going to be made going against Rhea.”

Cargill followed by claiming Ripley was ‘built by WWE.’

“I want to say this. I want to say this,” Cargill said. “Yeah, she’s great. She’s great. But, however, she also is backed and always has been built by WWE. She came from the indies. Yes, she went to NXT. Her character has developed along the way. If you see how she looked when she first got into wrestling to now, it’s a huge transformation.

“But also the machine does that for you, she continued. “It pushes you. It helps you try different things, you know, and she goes out there and she delivers every single time. So, you’re going to do nothing but invest more and more and more.”

In Cargill’s eyes, she didn’t get the same kind of help. “I’m raw,” she said. “My first match ever was on TV. Like I just said, I didn’t go through the indies. I didn’t go through all the training. I didn’t do all that. My NXT was AEW.”

Cargill’s first ever pro wrestling match was a mixed tag on AEW Dynamite in March of 2021, teaming with NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal (in his second match ever) against the team of Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.

Cody Rhodes part of new additions to WWE SmackDown lineup

Posted on by Josh Nason

Reigning WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will make his presence felt on Friday’s WWE SmackDown from St. Louis.

Rhodes’ addition to the show was announced Thursday, a day after WrestleMania 42 title challenger Randy Orton revealed the mystery man he has been talking to on the phone will also be in attendance. Orton recently turned on Rhodes in the lead-up to their title match in just a few weeks time.

Rhea Ripley will also be in attendance following the second straight attack last week by WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab as the build to their WrestleMania 42 match continues.

Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre are also expected for the show based on the WWE.com preview.

Lil Yachty will also likely make an appearance after Trick Williams invited him to the show this week amid rumors he and WWE have signed a deal to do something in the ring.

As of now, no matches have been announced.

Current WWE SmackDown lineup | This Friday | St. Louis

  • Cody Rhodes appearance
  • Randy Orton appearance
  • Rhea Ripley appearance
  • Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab appearance
  • Jacob Fatu

Rhea Ripley recalls Bianca Belair’s WWE WrestleMania 41 injury

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Bianca Belair informed Rhea Ripley mid-match at WrestleMania 41 that she suspected a broken finger. 

Ripley was a guest on The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show. She revealed Bianca Belair informed her during the match at WrestleMania 41 that she believed her finger was broken. When further questioned about how much of the match was left after the injury was discovered Ripley estimated it happening around halfway through. 

“I might’ve landed on it…You should’ve seen it in the match. We hit the ground and I see her turn around and she goes “I think I broke my finger”. And I’m like ‘Oh, that’s not good.'”

Ripley was asked about the atmosphere heading into her WrestleMania 42 match against Jade Cargill. She claimed there was a lot of hype and pressure given how this was labeled a dream rivalry by many. Ripley explained the need for her to surpass her previous performances at WrestleMania. 

“I do. I definitely do. I feel like this is a match that a lot of people have wanted for a long time. Especially at WrestleMania, there’s already so much pressure going into that day, and into that match. And also going off of last year, it was the same at WrestleMania 39 when I faced Charlotte. Then going into WrestleMania 40 I have to do just as well as I did the year before like I really have to.”

Ripley disclosed the added pressure that comes into effect when facing someone like Cargill who doesn’t have extensive experience in the industry. And the role she plays in making Cargill up her game in the match. 

“But now stepping in with someone that has only had limited experience within the wrestling industry compared to a lot of people on the show, I do have that pressure to kind of uplift her, and bring her to a different level. So, we can go out there and make magic just like everyone expects from us. We’ll see what happens, you know, it’s unpredictable, wrestling is so unpredictable. Anything can really happen but I know I’m going to go out there and give it 110%, and try and get her to try new things and level up her own game.”

This year, Ripley walks into her seventh consecutive WrestleMania match. At the event last year, she competed in a triple threat match featuring IYO Sky and Belair for the Women’s World Championship. Belair has been out of in-ring action since then. 

After winning the Elimination Chamber in February, Ripley earned the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Women’s Championship. However, an online dispute between her and Cargill made their rivalry personal. 

Paul Heyman weighs in on a potential ‘Paul Heyman Girl’ in WWE

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Paul Heyman is all praise for the women’s division and is honored to have collaborated with Jordynne Grace in WWE 2K26.

There is a storyline in the video game where Heyman manages Grace. Chris Scullion asked Heyman in his VGC interview whether the partnership with Grace in the video game was inspired by real-life decisions and whether she was a candidate considered to be the first ‘Paul Heyman Girl’. 

He claimed to be a fan of Grace’s performances but pinpointing one name from the current women’s roster would be a difficult task given the level of talent across the division. 

“I’m a big fan of Jordynne Grace, to say that there is a female in the locker room today that should be the first Paul Heyman Girl under the management and tutelage of Paul Heyman, would be a slight to the other women in this locker room.”

“There has never been a time in the history of WWE, professional wrestling, sports entertainment, or mixed martial arts that there has been such a ridiculously talented roster of females under one roof at the same time. I could sit here and run down all or actually I won’t even say ‘run down’ cause that’s a negative. Run up all the names that are on this roster. Start with Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill. You can go to Bianca Belair and AJ Lee. You can go to Nattie and Maxxine Dupri. You can go to Lash Legend and Nia  Jax. You can go to the Bella Twins. You can go to Liv Morgan. You can go to Raquel. You can go to, I mean my God! I can sit here for the next 20 minutes and rattle off these names. This is the most hyper talented group of women in history all under one roof.”

Heyman was a fan of WWE choosing Grace for the game collaboration. He added that it would be an honor to work with any of the wrestlers from the women’s division in the video game. He labelled them to be incomparable to any other sport or entertainment form. 

“Jordynne Grace was the choice of 2K(26). A splendid choice. What a magnificent athlete and performer I’m honored that I have a chance to work with her within WWE 2K26. And there are many other women, too many to mention, even though I mentioned a few before, but too many to mention that I would be honored to work with within this video game. Because just like in real life, the women’s roster right now in WWE is incomparable to any other roster in any other sport or form of entertainment in history.” 

Many of Paul Heyman’s managed talents have ultimately gone on to reach the top of the WWE pyramid, let alone in the industry. 

Grace established herself on TNA before making her surprise Royal Rumble debut in 2024 as entrant #5. A  year later she officially signed with WWE and competed on NXT until January 2026 when she was moved to SmackDown. 

Jade Cargill forms new faction on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill has brought in some backup before her match against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42. 

Cargill and Ripley confronted each other in the ring in tonight’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Ripley finally decided she was done talking and wanted to fight, but Cargill declined and started to leave. 

Her exit was blocked, however, by Michin and B-Fab. The duo teased a showdown with Cargill, but then stood beside her, and eventually the three of them surrounded Ripley in the ring. 

Ripley stood her ground and hit B-Fab with a superkick but was soon overwhelmed and taken out. Jade finished her off with Jaded and posed over her prone body. Wade Barrett referred to Cargill as “the ringleader of the Tormentors,” perhaps hinting at the name of this new faction. 

The new union came out of nowhere because Michin and B-Fab have been feuding with Cargill for the last several months. In fact, the last TV match for each of them was a loss to Cargill—last week for Michin, and in November for B-Fab. 

Ripley earned a title shot against Cargill by winning the Elimination Chamber match on the last day of February. The two have never been in the same match before. 

Click here for full SmackDown results. 

Jade Cargill names Charlotte Flair as her ‘dream opponent’

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Jade Cargill has Charlotte Flair on her radar after checking Rhea Ripley off her list of dream opponents. 

On Complex Grabs The Podcast, Cargill was asked about the fantasy match bookings fans were conjuring up after WWE announced her signing with the company in 2023. In the interview, she also discussed who was the dream opponent she expected to face on a stage like WrestleMania out of Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair.

“Of course, she’s the top girl. She’s the number one girl in our company currently. You know, she’s placed at such a high position and I’m going to reach the top, the highest of heights within this company. I mean, in what five years now, I have a title. I’ve been a champion three times over. I never worked the indie scene. I’ve been blessed to create such splash and to be the type.”

“So, yes, she was one of my opponents. I mean, one of the dream matches I wanted to have amongst others like Charlotte Flair. And I thought that’s actually the opponent I thought I was going to face at Mania was the likes of Charlotte Flair. You know, we’ve been teasing it for so long. And I think that’s a money-making match. I mean, she’s a Queen of home, right? And I am as well. And I think we have such similar aesthetics sometimes that I think it’s more of a like who’s who? Like who’s really like that Queen or whatever you want to say. I didn’t really dream book Rhea as being the person I would have had my ‘Mania match with this year.”

Cargill’s answer remained the same when questioned on feuds for the second half of the year particularly if Bianca Belair and Naomi made their returns. She reiterated Flair still being the No.1 dream opponent noting that SummerSlam would be the perfect stage for it to happen. 

“Well, when I retain, we’re gonna, yeah, assuming that in the air. I think well I would love to go on to face Charlotte at SummerSlam, but if Bianca returns, I don’t know what ‘cause the way the big three kind of split up was, like it was like a missing piece.” 

“So, I think it’s a storyline we need to embark on when everybody’s healthy and ready to go. I think everybody will want to see that story line. it’s so many avenues you can go with that storyline, right? But the person I would want to see at SummerSlam since I’m not seeing them at Mania will be Charlotte. It’s already there.” 

Cargill gave further backing on her reason for choosing Flair. 

“It’s about breaking her. She’s stoic. Like I’m stoic, but she’s very like, you know, so I think it’ll be a great match. And I know Charlotte’s a woman for pulling people up and making them better. And that’s the people I want to work with.

Earlier this month, a social media encounter began when Ripley posted a throwback of her championship matches at WrestleMania over the past six years. Cargill took notice and responded by calling her a “second option.”

Ripley instantly clapped back by sharing throwback interviews of Cargill labeling her a “dream opponent.” As the back-and-forth continued, Ripley claimed that all Cargill did was talk. Eventually, Ripley showed up to the March 6 edition of SmackDown to confront the champion and set up their title match for WrestleMania 42.