WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley suffered a legitimate facial injury during the latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The incident occurred during a high-profile singles match against the reigning WWE Women’s United States Champion, Giulia, held at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Another Facial Injury Added to Ripley’s Growing List of Ailments
While both competitors currently hold championship gold, the television main event was contested as a non-title affair. According to Wrestlingnews.co, the visible injury to Ripley’s face appeared to occur when she took a curb stomp from Giulia during the match. Giulia controlled a significant portion of the bout, utilizing her stiff, hard-hitting offensive style against the Judgment Day powerhouse.
The match ultimately descended into chaos when Nia Jax and Lash Legend interfered, launching a coordinated attack on both Ripley and Giulia. The assault continued until Ripley’s tag team partner, IYO SKY, rushed to the ring to make the save and clear the ring. Ripley and SKY are currently embroiled in an intense tag team rivalry with the duo of Giulia and Kiana James, adding further animosity to the situation.
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Unfortunately for Ripley, this marks the third time she has sustained a notable facial injury in recent years. In 2024, she suffered a broken nose and an orbital socket injury that forced her to wear a protective mask during her televised appearances and matches. The following year, in 2025, she sustained a second broken nose, which once again required the use of medical facial protection. Despite the recent injury on SmackDown, Ripley remains scheduled to compete in the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
