Overview
- WWE announced on July 17 that it will hold a five-person Ladder Match at SummerSlam to name an Interim WWE Women’s Champion while the reigning champion recovers.
- Rhea Ripley is not cleared to compete at SummerSlam because she is rehabilitating a torn meniscus, and WWE says the interim winner will face her to determine the undisputed champion.
- Qualifying matches began on SmackDown and have already produced two confirmed entrants: Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill, leaving three spots to be decided in the coming weeks.
- WWE framed the decision as an interim solution rather than vacating the belt, a rare choice for the main roster that preserves the title’s presence on the card.
- The interim approach borrows from combat sports and other wrestling promotions and creates creative trade-offs for WWE, including fewer sympathy-storyline options for Ripley and a built-in unification match to build toward her return.