With less than a month to go, SummerSlam, WWE's second biggest show of the year, is beginning to take shape. While not official, matches like Ricochet vs. Logan Paul, and a triple threat match for the WWE Women's Championship between Asuka, Charlotte Flair, and Bianca Belair appear to be set. Main eventing the show looks to be Roman Reigns battling his cousin Jey Uso. But what about the women's champ on the Raw side, the Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley?
Since beating Charlotte Flair for what was then called the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 39, Ripley's run at the top has been a little disappointing to say the least. That's not her fault, as even though she's a heel in the Judgment Day faction, Ripley is one of the most over stars in the company, man or woman. The problem so far has been how she's booked, with the focus being on her pairing with Dominik Mysterio rather than any substantial feuds. While she did have an impressive match with Natalya on Raw last week, Ripley has yet to have a high caliber feud. That might be about to change, as according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, one half of the Women's Tag Team Champions, Raquel Rodriguez, looks to be Rhea Ripley's next challenger at SummerSlam. Meltzer said, "They're not there yet [with the story], but that match was penciled in last week."
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Is Raquel Rodriguez A Good Choice To Face Rhea Ripley?
It's not a surprise to see that Raquel Rodriguez appears to be the one chosen to face Ripley, as she and her tag team partner, Liv Morgan, ran out to save Natalya, following her loss to Ripley on Raw. Is Rodriquez the best choice though? She and Liv Morgan just started another reign as the Women's Tag Team Champions. Assuming that the pair hold on to their titles, having Rodriguez focus on a singles title means that the Women's Tag Team Championship won't be showcased at SummerSlam. That creates more problems for a division that has been riddled with them since the beginning. With Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey, the former champs, looking like they too are on a collision course for SummerSlam, there aren't really many other teams out there for the currents champions to face.
Rodriguez has faced Ripley a few times, with the last being in NXT in 2021, and she's the only woman on the roster that can stand face to face with the Women's World Champion and come off as in imposing threat. A match against Rhea Ripley at SummerSlam might hurt the title she carries now, but it will do wonders for Raquel Rodriguez herself.
SummerSlam will be held at Detroit's Ford Field on Saturday, August 5. Will Raquel Rodriguez be the one to topple Rhea Ripley? Only time will tell.
