During last Saturday's Elimination Chamber PLE, Rhea Ripley won the Women's Elimination Chamber match to earn a shot at WWE Women's Champion Jade Cargill at WrestleMania.
It wasn't the match most expected, as Tiffany Stratton getting a rematch with Cargill seemed like the more obvious clash for the Show of Shows. Still, bringing Ripley to SmackDown should freshen up her character, and this is a match that's exciting and intriguing fans in equal measure.
However, it seems that there's already some very real tension between Ripley and Cargill.
On March 1, Ripley tagged Cargill in a post with interview clips from 2023 and 2024. In those, the former AEW star described The Eradictor as her "dream opponent," praising her as a "powerhouse" who "ragdolls people around."
Cargill responded by saying, "HA! I just be talking . & which member of our social team found that video for you???? Cause we know they always have to find a way to keep you 'on top' going into mania."
It seems that was a step too far for Ripley, who pointed out how little Cargill has wrestled since she won the title by saying, "All you seem to do is talk... And that’s literally it." That prompted the WWE Women's Champion to state, "Talk??? Like the hours you spend talking to creative?"
By doubling down on the suggestion that Ripley has used backstage politics to talk her way into this WrestleMania match, Cargill may have crossed a line. In an Instagram Story, the former Judgement Day member has written, "Not having fun. Not friends. Learn to work and never lie to defame someone’s real human character by 'breaking the 4th wall.'"
That came after she posted, "You’re funny... That’s funny... Now we know you really do be talking out of your ass because everything you say is bullshit. Don’t spread lies on my name you dumb B."
Cargill did, however, get the last word on that exchange by posting, "Hit dogs will holler . Holla holla holla 🥰"
It seems things are becoming increasingly heated between the two women, especially as Cargill's apparent inexperience is leading her to break kayfabe in a way that makes Ripley look legitimately bad. Of course, we can't discount the possibility that this whole thing is a work meant to increase excitement for their WrestleMania match.