The internet has been buzzing over the past couple days with the online exchanges between the WWE Women’s Champion, Jade Cargill and some other members of the SmackDown women’s locker room. This stemmed from an interaction between Cargill and Chelsea Green to start. Piper Niven chimed in, and Rhea Ripley appeared to be the subject matter of the exchange as a whole. You can read about it by clicking here.
Since this all transpired over the past day or so, several sources have communicated with PWInsider Elite, BodySlam+, and Fightful Select.
Per PWInsider –
The back and forth between Jade Cargill and others was not something devised by WWE Creative with a number of sources placing the blame for the blow-up on Cargill.
One source noted that Cargill has been criticized by a number of talents for how she rubs others the wrong way and that when the back and forth with Rhea began, it wasn’t hard for others to want to jump in and voice their opinions. They cited this wasn’t the first time Cargill has upset others with how she conducted herself and intimated that when there were reports about Cargill being hurt last year, the real reason she disappeared and spent time in the PC was to let personal issues going on at the time subside.
Another source tried to downplay the situation, but later admitted that they expect management would step in and speak to Cargill about her relationship with the locker room. The source noted that everyone in the locker room has been happy to do whatever they need to do to get Cargill over but that the respect they show her does not often feel requited. They described it as Cargill coming off “insecure” when she shouldn’t have any reason to feel that way.
A source close to Cargill blew off the entire situation, citing she is a “Type A personality” and this is what happens when competitive personalities are in the same space.
Per BodySlam –
The situation with the SmackDown locker room said to be a shoot and not a work.
Sources indicate to Bodyslam that Ripley was legitimately upset with Cargill saying that she spends hours talking to creative which is why she posted on her Instagram story last night ahead of RAW before deleting it.
Another source indicates that despite their being some sort of legitimate bad blood between the 2, there will be no issue with them working together as we head to WrestleMania.
There is said to be no heat for the exchange but there was a sense of disappointment as this wasn’t part of the story that was going to play out on TV.
Per Fightful –
A number of sources believed that the comments between Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley started as a playful work, but took a turn when Jade mentioned Rhea talking to creative.
Sources were puzzled about bringing up creative to further a feud, however, it was said WWE was generally happy about the buzz that emerged and the feeling that Rhea and Jade have a legitimate dislike of one another, whether it be real or not.
There isn’t concern from WWE sources that the two will work together. When reports emerged that it was an elaborate work, one source in creative said “we would never include a mention of creative as a part of that, it undermines the point.”