With Rhea Ripley sidelined due to a knee injury, WWE has opted for an unconventional path forward with its Women’s Championship: rather than stripping Ripley of the title, the company is introducing an Interim WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2026.
It’s a decision that’s drawn some criticism from fans, raising the natural question of how the locker room feels about it.
Backstage Reaction
According to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, addressing the topic in a recent Fightful Select Answers Q&A, the reaction backstage has been largely unbothered. Sapp said he “hasn’t heard anything negative” about the move, and there’s been “no eye-rolling” or pushback from the roster.
In fact, Sapp noted the wrestlers involved seem genuinely excited about how the vacancy is being resolved — a five-way ladder match to crown the new Interim Champion. That match is set for SummerSlam 2026: Night Two, and will feature a stacked field: Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green, Charlotte Flair, and Lash Legend.
SummerSlam 2026 takes place this weekend at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, airing live on the ESPN App domestically and on Netflix for international audiences.
