WWE Executive Vice President Adam Pearce announced Friday that an interim Women’s Champion will be crowned in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam [1].
The decision follows an injury to the current champion, Rhea Ripley, which prevents her from defending the title. This move ensures the division remains active while Ripley recovers, preventing a championship stalemate during one of the company's biggest annual events.
Pearce delivered the announcement during the July 17, 2026, episode of WWE SmackDown [1]. The use of a Ladder Match format adds a high-stakes element to the competition, as participants must climb to retrieve the championship belt suspended above the ring.
"Because of Rhea Ripley's injury, we will crown an interim Women's Champion at SummerSlam in a Ladder Match," Pearce said [1].
While the official championship remains with Ripley, the interim title creates a secondary prize for the division to compete for in the coming weeks. The specific date for SummerSlam was not provided during the broadcast [1].
This development shifts the focus of the women's division toward the upcoming premium live event. The interim champion will hold the title until Ripley is medically cleared to return and defend the primary championship [1].
Industry reports confirm that the announcement was made live on the SmackDown broadcast to ensure all competitors and fans were notified simultaneously [2].
“"Because of Rhea Ripley's injury, we will crown an interim Women's Champion at SummerSlam in a Ladder Match."”
The introduction of an interim title allows WWE to maintain a competitive narrative and ticket-selling draw for SummerSlam without stripping Rhea Ripley of her championship status. This strategy manages the impact of a top star's injury by creating a temporary power vacuum, which typically leads to the elevation of new challengers and increased viewership for the women's division.
