IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley React To Women's World Title Change On WWE Raw

Rhea Ripley's second reign as Women's World Champion came to an end after just 56 days as she dropped the belt to IYO SKY on Monday Night Raw.

Ripley faced SKY in the main event of Raw on March 3 in a back-and-forth contest. Ripley was happy to accept a count-out victory down the stretch after she blocked an Asai Moonsault and dumped SKY on the announce table. Bianca Belair, who was sat at ringside, cheered on SKY, though, and the challenger made it back into the ring at nine.

The encouragement from Belair infuriated Ripley and she pushed Belair over on the outside. Belair then pushed Ripley from behind, something which would traditionally lead to a DQ, but referee Jessika Carr for some reason didn't call for the bell and instead told both women to stop it.

Ripley then got back in the ring but she was still too focused on Belair, even telling the Elimination Chamber winner that she would see her at Mania while setting up for an avalanche Riptide. This allowed SKY to counter with a Hurricanrana, however, and the former Io Shirai followed up with a Moonsault for the surprise win.

Reacting to her title win after Raw, IYO SKY said in a WWE digital exclusive: "I have no words anymore. It's so [surprising], but I made it, and the crowd gave [a] great reaction to me. Oh my gosh, and also, I'm going to WrestleMania now."

SKY then added after a hug from Dakota Kai (H/T Fightful): "Bianca Belair, I know she's so strong, and she's the EST. But I am the champ, yeah. I'm gonna defend this title. This is my title."

Rhea Ripley, meanwhile, was furious about her title loss but she was more unhappy with herself than IYO SKY or Bianca Belair.

"How am I feeling? How am I feeling? I’m p*ssed off. I'm mad, I'm furious. I'm everything. Every single angry feeling, I am feeling. But the thing is, I can't get mad at IYO. I can't fully be mad at Bianca. I'm more disappointed and mad at myself because I should have known better. I should have known not to take my eye off the ball. I've been through this crap with Liv Morgan. I've been through all this with Dom, I've been through it with Judgment Day, and I still cannot learn. I cannot learn to think for myself, and I cannot learn to keep my eye on the ball, and I cannot learn that friends are not real. Friends are not real. I know what IYO SKY is capable of. I knew that I had never beaten her before. I knew all these things, and I was still dumb enough to think that I could go out there and take everything on, like I'm just unstoppable or something," Ripley stated in a WWE digital exclusive (H/T Fightful).

Ripley then addressed why she confronted Belair, adding:

"I felt hurt. I've had so many mixed emotions in 2024, 2025 with everything that's been going on in my life, in this business, in my career, and to see Bianca go out there and be a little cheerleader for IYO SKY when I thought that we were friends and we respected each other. I understand that IYO's a part of that, too. We all have teamed together. We've all been there for each other, we've been here since NXT together. Growing up together, coming to the main roster together, all of that.

"But to see her go out there and just cheer IYO on when I'm about to win and continue being Women's World Champion and then go to WrestleMania against Bianca Belair, something that we have talked about multiple times in multiple interviews. Every single time people ask me who my opponent is for WrestleMania that I want, it's always Bianca Belair. We were both on the WWE 2K24 cover together. We've literally been growing up on each side, on each brand, and just taking over, and now, everything that I wanted and everything that I worked for and everything that I strived to get back and be dominant, it's all taken away, and it's all because I'm just so stupid. I'm so stupid, I'm so stupid."

As it stands, IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair for the Women's World Championship is scheduled for WrestleMania 41. Whether WWE will add Rhea Ripley to the match to make it a Triple Threat remains to be seen.

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