Rhea Ripley accidentally sparked fresh speculation about her WWE return after a new video showed her walking comfortably during a training session. The former WWE Women’s Champion quickly responded, making it clear fans should not mistake progress in her recovery for an imminent return to the ring.
A TikTok video shared on September 23 showed “The Eradicator” walking briskly near a wrestling ring without the large knee brace she had been wearing following surgery. The footage was enough to get fans talking about a possible comeback, especially with Ripley looking noticeably more comfortable than she had in recent weeks.
“Mami” then stepped into the comments herself after seeing the excitement surrounding the clip. Instead of giving fans a return date, she explained that she had only recently reached the point of walking again and urged everyone to give her more time.
“Walking and wrestling are very different 😅 learnt how to walk last week so don’t get too excited, stay patient with me 🥲.”
Her response offered a much clearer picture of where her recovery stood. While being able to walk without the brace was certainly an encouraging development, Ripley made it clear that returning to WWE competition involved a much bigger physical test.
The update also pushed back against the idea that the video signaled her comeback was close. Rhea Ripley had been using crutches and wearing a substantial knee brace after undergoing surgery in August, so the latest footage represented progress rather than confirmation that she was ready to resume wrestling.
Rhea Ripley’s Injury Kept Her Out of WWE Action
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“The Nightmare” had been sidelined since June after suffering a torn meniscus. She underwent surgery in August after the injury required a longer recovery, with WWE initially creating an interim championship situation because of her absence.
Her last televised match came at Clash in Italy on May 31, when she defeated Jade Cargill to retain the WWE Women’s Championship. “The Storm” pushed Ripley to her limit in the rematch, but Ripley eventually put her away with the Riptide to close out the match.
Chelsea Green later won the Interim WWE Women’s Championship in a five-woman ladder match at SummerSlam. WWE subsequently listed Green as the Women’s Champion, and she defended the title against Nia Jax on September 11.
There has also been a reported target for Ripley’s return. According to the “Wrestling Observer Newsletter,” WWE hopes “Mami” will be cleared in time for the 2027 Royal Rumble, scheduled for February at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
For now, Rhea Ripley’s latest update showed her rehabilitation had progressed, but her words made the bigger point: getting back on her feet was only one step toward getting back inside the WWE ring. Her eventual return will depend on how the recovery progresses over the coming months.
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