Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42: Everything You Should Know

by Steven Harrison

Mar 3, 2026

A medium shot of three women standing together on a brightly lit stage with a purple background. On the left, a woman with long dark hair and a tan complexion wears a white corset-style top and holds a microphone with a red RAW logo toward the center. In the middle, a woman with pale skin, bold gothic makeup (black lipstick and purple eyeshadow), and short dark hair wears a black leather vest and has an arm around the third woman. On the right, a woman with long red-streaked hair and a white fuzzy top smiles slightly. The woman in the center appears to be speaking into the microphone.

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Rhea Ripley captured the 2026 Women’s Elimination Chamber, earning a shot at Jade Cargill’s WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42. Fan reaction has been positive — I was at the United Center, and the crowd made it clear: Ripley is the right choice.

Cargill was also in attendance, seated in a box suite. On television, her reactions stood out, particularly after Ripley’s win, creating immediate tension between the two. That tension hasn’t stayed in the arena — it’s spilled online in a messy back-and-forth exchange that has sparked speculation over whether the feud is a scripted work or a real-life shoot.

Here's a breakdown of the exchanges, and what you should expect going forward.

Ripley will appear on SmackDown this week and every week through WrestleMania season. Her move to SmackDown raises questions about Tiffany Stratton’s involvement, given her prominence in the division and earlier creative plans that included her in the title picture. With slower ticket sales and lukewarm fan reception for WrestleMania 42, WWE appears to be leaning on Ripley as a proven draw and its biggest women’s star.

Will IYO SKY Be Involved?

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 2: Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY are interviewed by Jackie Redmond during Monday Night RAW at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 2, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)

As of now, RHIYO appears on hold through WrestleMania, with Ripley focused on Cargill and IYO targeting the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

After WrestleMania, however, another matchup between Ripley and IYO seems inevitable. On Raw, IYO’s body language suggested that Jade Cargill isn’t the only one with a bone to pick with Ripley.