Rhea Ripley shares cryptic post before WWE SmackDown

Rhea Ripley shared a new selfie on Instagram today, playfully concealing her facial injury ahead of tonight’s SmackDown at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Eradicator, who returned to WWE RAW wearing a protective mask due to a fractured orbital bone, continues to make waves following her intense confrontation with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan.

Ripley’s return this Monday marked her first appearance since a parking lot attack by Raquel Rodriguez and Morgan at NXT. The assault sidelined the former champion with a facial injury, but she made a statement in her comeback by delivering a devastating headbutt to Morgan.

Wrestling journalist Bill Apter praised Ripley’s return on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s UnSKripted show, highlighting the renewed intensity in her character.

“I loved when Rhea came in and Liv Morgan said who’s gonna throw the first punch. And Rhea gave that vicious headbutt to Liv Morgan,” Apter said. “Her character was getting a little soft when she was with Damian Priest without the Judgment Day there. She came back with that vengeance that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

The 28-year-old star has been embroiled in a heated rivalry with Morgan over the Women’s World Championship, a title she had to relinquish after WrestleMania XL due to injury. Their conflict intensified after Dominik Mysterio sided with Morgan at SummerSlam.

Ripley is set to compete in the Women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series next weekend, where she might have a chance to settle scores with Morgan.