3 reasons Rhea Ripley may not return to WWE at/before SummerSlam 2024

Rhea Ripley has been away from WWE television for quite some time, and things have taken a dramatic shift on Monday Night RAW in her absence. The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour has been in full effect, as Morgan is on a mission to take everything away from The Eradicator.

Amid the ongoing drama, there has been various speculation about Ripley making her much-anticipated return ahead of SummerSlam. However, there's a good possibility that Ripley may not return to WWE anytime around the August spectacle. The company may hold her back despite her getting medically cleared.

This article explores three reasons why Rhea Ripley may not return to WWE at or before SummerSlam 2024.

#3. More layers to unravel in Liv Morgan's storyline with The Judgment Day

The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour is seemingly at its last destination, as Morgan is on the verge of taking away the last thing that remains for Rhea Ripley—The Judgment Day, which is dearest to her. The Women's World Champion has been trying to seduce Mami's Latino Heat and bring the heel faction to her side.

While Dominik Mysterio is still reluctant, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh have seemingly started to have a change of heart after The Queen of Extreme helped them win the World Tag Team Championship. There are many more layers to unravel in Morgan's storyline with The Judgment Day, which may gradually progress over time.

The Women's World Champion has a long way to go before she can win over the heel faction and turn them on her side. The fact that there is still a lot of storytelling to unfold before The Judgment Day joins Liv Morgan indicates that Rhea Ripley may not return around SummerSlam.

In case she does, WWE would have to rush the storyline that has been brewing between Morgan and the heel stable, which is only getting started on Monday Night RAW. Hence, Ripley is unlikely to return anytime around SummerSlam this year.

#2. Liv Morgan's era has just begun

Liv Morgan recently won the Women's World Championship, and she has a long way to go before establishing herself as a dominant champion and bolstering her title reign. The fact that Morgan's era has just begun is one of the major reasons Rhea Ripley may not return to WWE anytime soon.

It is because The Eradicator will inevitably come after the 30-year-old star the day she returns, as the Judgment Day member will look for revenge. Liv Morgan will undoubtedly be the first name that she looks to hunt down upon her arrival after everything the former has done to her.

This will likely inject Mami back into the championship picture, which will put Liv Morgan's title reign in a precarious state. The clock could start ticking for the current Women's World Champion with the resumption of her feud with Rhea Ripley.

Therefore, WWE would be locked in a dilemma if The Eradicator were to return at or before SummerSlam, as Liv's title reign, which just began, could tragically end in a few months.

#1. Damian Priest's departure from The Judgment Day may happen before Rhea Ripley's return

Damian Priest is the only member of The Judgment Day who is cognizant of what's happening and is against Liv Morgan's antics, while the other members have quietly begun to gravitate to her side. The Punisher is resistant to the fact that Morgan has been surreptitiously trying to take Rhea Ripley's position.

Therefore, it looks like a matter of time before the current Women's World Champion turns The Judgment Day to her side while Damian Priest may part ways with the faction. The Archer of Infamy could reunite with Rhea Ripley whenever the latter returns to WWE.

The fact that Damian Priest's potential split from The Judgment Day could be in the cards before Ripley's return seems to indicate that The Eradicator may not come back around SummerSlam. Priest's exit from the heel faction appears likely to occur at Money in the Bank or SummerSlam in the upcoming months.

This could pave the way for Liv Morgan to officially take control of The Judgment Day and end her revenge tour. It could be followed by months of rich storytelling, which will eventually lay the groundwork for the much-anticipated return of Rhea Ripley.