Rhea Ripley played a key role during the main event of the first episode of WWE SmackDown in 2026. She sent a message on social media after taking out Zelina Vega during the Ambulance Match.
The Ambulance match consisted of Aleister Black in action against Damian Priest. The two have been clashing for months, but it was finally time for them to sort things. Priest became victorious, with an assist from her Terror Twin, who took out Vega with the Riptide.
On Instagram, Ripley opened up on this week's SmackDown, where she first partnered with IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss for an Eight-Woman Tag Team Match. The babyfaces emerged victorious over Nia Jax, Lash Legend and the kabuki Warriors. The Eradicator also shared a message to the former Women's United States Champion, putting her on notice following the show.
"Hi smackdown… and Hi @zelinavegawwe 😈," wrote Ripley.
Zelina Vega opened up on her chemistry with Rhea Ripley
Zelina Vega and Rhea Ripley know each other very well. They have shared the ring more than once, with Vega speaking highly of her bond with the Eradicator.
On Our Daily Show, this is what Vega said about Mami:
"Rhea Ripley [is someone I match up great within the ring]. Because that girl, oh my God. The thing is when we got to do Backlash — and I’ve heard her do this interview and it was funny to me because even she knows, she was like, the way she said it and I was like, man, if you even know that, I wonder how the fans think of something that happened that way, you know, how it happened at Backlash but, for her and I to get in there and just — I can read her like no other person. I can feel her movements and she doesn’t even have to do or say anything. I know what she’s doing right away."
Ripley and IYO SKY will challenge The Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on next Week's RAW.