WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will miss SummerSlam as she recovers from a torn meniscus, according to Raw general manager Adam Pearce, as reported by [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion). Ripley sustained the injury on Sunday, May 31, at Clash in Italy during a title defense against Jade Cargill, according to [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion). Although she subsequently competed in a pair of six-woman tag team matches in France and Portugal on June 2 and June 3, she has been sidelined from in-ring competition since, as noted by [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion).
Rhea Ripley Injury Forces WWE to Alter SummerSlam Plans
While there was potential for Ripley to continue working through the issue, a strong internal push within WWE encouraged her to take all necessary time to recover and avoid aggravating the injury, according to [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html). WWE officials are optimistic that Ripley could return in the fall, according to [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html), and Pearce noted that she is close to returning, per [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion). Once she is ready to come back, the winner of the upcoming interim championship match will face Ripley to determine the unified WWE Women’s Champion, according to [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion).
Interim Championship Ladder Match Set for SummerSlam
Due to Ripley’s absence, WWE created an Interim Women’s Championship that will be awarded to the winner of a five-woman ladder match at SummerSlam, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim) and [WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2026/interim-wwe-women-s-championship-ladder-match). SummerSlam is scheduled as a special two-night event taking place on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, in Minneapolis, according to [WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2026/interim-wwe-women-s-championship-ladder-match) and [Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25455900-rhea-ripley-miss-wwe-summerslam-injury-ladder-match-will-determine-interim-womens-champion). The event will stream live at 6 ET/3 PT on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan in the United States and internationally on Netflix, as detailed by [WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2026/interim-wwe-women-s-championship-ladder-match).
Qualifications for the high-stakes ladder match took place on the July 17 episode of SmackDown, where United States Champion Tiffany Stratton defeated Jacy Jayne to secure the first spot, according to [WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2026/interim-wwe-women-s-championship-ladder-match). On the same night, Jade Cargill qualified by earning a disqualification win against Nia Jax following interference from Charlotte Flair, according to [WWE](https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2026/interim-wwe-women-s-championship-ladder-match). Additional spots in the match were left open to competitors such as Charlotte Flair or Nia Jax, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim).
Original SummerSlam Card Altered by Injury
The creation of the interim title match significantly disrupted WWE’s original plans for the summer event, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim) and [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html). Reports from WrestleVotes Radio indicated that original booking included a one-on-one match between Charlotte Flair and Jade Cargill, though sources noted it was intended to be a championship match, leaving unverified whether Ripley was scheduled to defend against both in a triple threat or drop the belt prior to a singles match, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim) and [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html).
Additionally, Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton was originally scheduled to defend her title in a singles match to provide a major showcase in her home state of Minnesota, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim) and [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html). Cory Hays of False Finish reported that Blake Monroe was planned as Stratton’s opponent, though Monroe has not yet wrestled on Raw, SmackDown, or a PLE since joining the main roster, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim). Because of Ripley’s injury, both original matches were scrapped, and Stratton and Cargill were instead inserted into the interim title ladder match, according to [Cagesideseats](https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/462376/report-rhea-ripley-injury-changed-wwe-summerslam-plans-stratton-monroe-flair-cargill-interim) and [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/backstage-news-rhea-ripleys-injury-195559755.html).