Raquel Rodriguez is fully cleared to return to action from injury and will challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women's World Championship at Payback.



On Raw this week, Rhea Ripley defeated Candice LeRae by submission in a matter of minutes. After the match, Ripley and Dominik celebrated while walking back up the entrance ramp. As they did, Rodriguez's music hit and she limped down the ramp toward Ripley with a crutch.

Ripley and Dominik laughed at Rodriguez and tried to attack her, but were startled when she kicked away her crutch and attacked them herself. Rodriguez and Ripley battled into the ring. Rodriguez gave Ripley a fall away slam and then picked up to the microphone to say she was finally medically cleared to wrestle. Rodriguez then said she would face Ripley for the Women's World Championship at Payback.

Before making her main roster debut in 2021, Ripley and Rodriguez feuded in NXT. Their feud culminated with a Last Woman Standing Match on the specialty NXT New Year's Evil show on January 6.

Raquel Rodriguez has been out of action since Ripley attacked her prior to Summerslam. Both Rodriguez and Ripley are former NXT Women's Champions.

WWE Payback airs live on Peacock on Saturday September 3 from Pittsburgh. Other announced matches on the show include"

  • Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
  • Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus in a Steel Cage Match