4 reasons why Raquel Rodriguez cost Rhea Ripley against Liv Morgan at WWE Bad Blood

Raquel Rodriguez made a shocking return to WWE at Bad Blood, attacking Rhea Ripley to cause a disqualification. Big Mami Cool then seemed to align herself with Liv Morgan, leaving the arena with the World Women's Champion and Dominik Mysterio.

While Rodriguez's return wasn't entirely unexpected, it still raised a few eyebrows among the fans. The former NXT Women's Champion has a storied history with both women, so her return could have gone both ways. So why did she choose to side with Morgan, not Ripley? What's in store for the Texas native, and what will her role be in the rivalry?

Here are four possible reasons why Raquel Rodriguez cost Rhea Ripley the Women's World Championship at WWE Bad Blood

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#4: Raquel Rodriguez has a history with both Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan in WWE

Rodriguez has shared the ring with Ripley and Morgan many times [Images from WWE.com]

Raquel Rodriguez was one of the most dominant superstars of WWE NXT's Black and Gold era. Her time on the developmental brand was highly decorated, leaving her an NXT Women's Title and an inaugural, and record two-time holder of the tag team title. During this time, Rhea Ripley was one of her fiercest rivals, and this carried over to the main roster.

After both women were called up, they each teamed up with current Women's World Champion Liv Morgan. This connected history between all three superstars made Rodriguez a perfect addition. Her attacking Ripley may have something to do with the fact that The Eradicator was her last big opponent before going on hiatus.

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#3: Rhea Ripley vs Liv Morgan needed something new to continue beyond Bad Blood

Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan's feud over the past few months has evolved into arguably the most divisive in all of WWE. Despite remaining hugely "over" with crowds in attendance, it has received some backlash from the online fanbase for a number of reasons. Some fans have been unhappy with the usage of Dominik Mysterio, while others haven't appreciated the "repetitive" confrontations on RAW.

This has led some to call for the rivalry to end sooner rather than later, with little unpredictability expected of it going forward. The introduction of Raquel Rodriguez adds a whole new dimension to the rivalry, and will potentially help retain fan interest as the feud progresses. Could it go all the way to WrestleMania 41? Triple H and Co just might do it!

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#2: Raquel Rodriguez will bridge the size gap between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan

Throughout Rhea Ripley's feud with Liv Morgan, there has been a noticeable imbalance due to the size difference between the stars. The Women's World Champion has so far found a way around it with sneak attacks, but that can only work for so long before getting stale.

By enlisting Raquel Rodriguez, who matches Ripley in strength and size, Morgan has finally leveled the playing field. Unlike Dominik Mysterio and the rest of The Judgment Day, Rodriguez can actually get physical with The Eradicator, helping the latter become a sympathetic underdog. Mami has finally met her match, and all involved will be all the better for it.

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#1: Raquel Rodriguez's WWE Bad Blood return sets up two major future feuds for her

Before going on a health-related hiatus from WWE, Raquel Rodriguez's creative direction was largely hit-and-miss. The former NXT Women's Champion was a solid presence in the women's division, but she was finding it tough to break through to the very top level. After eight months away, her return needed to be in a top angle with intriguing storylines to sink her teeth into.

By attacking Rhea Ripley, she took the first step in the right direction, setting up a rivalry with The Eradicator as Liv Morgan's protector. After that, she will be primed to turn against Morgan, potentially competing for the Women's World Championship. By attacking Ripley, Rodriguez may just have started a chain reaction that will lead to her winning the world title at WrestleMania 41!