Rhea Ripley’s absence from WWE television has been felt, especially with the ongoing drama surrounding Liv Morgan’s Revenge Tour. Speculation has been building about Ripley’s potential return around SummerSlam, but there are several reasons why this might not be the case. The first reason is that Ripley’s storyline with Liv Morgan and The Judgment Day is still unfolding, with many layers yet to be unraveled. Morgan has been trying to seduce Mami’s Latino Heat and bring the heel faction to her side, but The Queen of Extreme has a long way to go before she can win them over. With so much storytelling still to come, it’s unlikely that Ripley will return around SummerSlam.
Another reason Ripley may not return around SummerSlam is that Liv Morgan’s era as Women’s World Champion has just begun. Morgan has a long way to go before establishing herself as a dominant champion, and Ripley’s return could upset her momentum. The Eradicator will undoubtedly come after Morgan the day she returns, seeking revenge for everything Morgan has done to her. This would put Morgan’s title reign in a precarious state, and WWE may not want to risk ending her reign so soon.
Finally, Damian Priest’s departure from The Judgment Day could happen before Ripley’s return. Priest is the only member of the faction who is aware of Morgan’s antics and is resistant to her attempts to take Rhea Ripley’s position. It looks like a matter of time before The Punisher parts ways with The Judgment Day, possibly reuniting with Ripley whenever she returns to WWE. Priest’s exit from the faction could occur at Money in the Bank or SummerSlam, which would pave the way for Liv Morgan to officially take control of The Judgment Day and end her revenge tour.
While there is still speculation about Rhea Ripley’s potential return to WWE around SummerSlam, there are several reasons why this might not be the case. With Ripley’s storyline with Liv Morgan and The Judgment Day still unfolding, Morgan’s era as Women’s World Champion just beginning, and Damian Priest’s potential departure from The Judgment Day on the horizon, it’s unclear when Rhea Ripley will return to WWE.