Rhea Ripley is still the WWE Women’s Champion, but it wasn’t easy.
At Clash in Italy on Sunday, Ripley took on the woman she defeated at WrestleMania for the title, Jade Cargill. In what many would say was Cargill’s best match to date, she took Ripley to her limits and dominated the first half of the match.
Once Ripley gained momentum, the two were evenly matched through the rest of the bout. Highlights of the match included Ripley going for an electric chair, but with Cargill close to the ropes, she powered her over with her legs to the outside. Ripley still held on to Cargill on her shoulders and landed her on the ring apron face-first. The two showed how well they have grown to know each other as they countered one another’s finishers.
B-Fab and Michin made their way out to cause a distraction. As Ripley was close to a three-count B-Fab attempted to put Cargill’s foot on the ropes, but it eventually got there to break the count. Charlotte Flair emerged from the crowd to take out B-Fab and Michin. She helped out Ripley and paid back Cargill by putting Ripley’s foot on the ropes for a rope break of her own.
Ripley was able to capitalize on Flair’s assist and hit Riptide for the win. The match lasted nearly 17 minutes.