By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley revealed that she underwent surgery to repair her injured knee. Ripley took to social media to share the news on Thursday and said working nearly 14 years caught up with her. “Surgery was never a first option for me, but it got to the point that it was needed,” she wrote. Read her full statement below or via her Twitter/X page.
Powell’s POV: Ripley did not provide any specifics regarding the injury. She reportedly has been dealing with a meniscus tear. The recovery time likely hinges on the type of tear and the type of surgery that was performed. Online estimates list a three- to six-month recovery time. Bucket handle tears can be trickier, yet include a couple of options for surgery. If doctors trim the damaged portion, the recovery time can be as little as six to eight weeks. The problem is that merely trimming the damaged portion can lead to more issues down the road, whereas a full repair requires a four- to six-month recovery period. I learned way too much about this when Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy suffered a bucket-handle tear in 2024. McCarthy opted for the full repair, yet he needed a second procedure a few months later to help reduce minor swelling. Here’s wishing Ripley the best in her recovery.
Life update.
After just under 14 year in wrestling and doing sports my entire life… It’s caught up to me. Surgery was never a first option for me, but it got to the point that it was needed…
First one down…
Hopefully no more…I’ve survived, now it’s time to start thriving… pic.twitter.com/wmuD1qQv97
— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) August 6, 2026
(Jason Powell, founder and editor of ProWrestling.net, has covered pro wrestling full-time since 1997. He hosts the weekly podcast, Pro Wrestling Boom, and also appears regularly on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast. Reach him via email at dotnetjason@gmail.com and on social media via @prowrestlingnet.bsky.social or x.com/prowrestlingnet. For his full bio and information on this website, click here.)
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