Judgement Day must lead to a Rhea Ripley title run

Initially, Judgement Day was off to a very rocky start. The group seemed directionless and after jettisoning Edge from the faction, it became a talking point that the entire group should be disbanded before more harm was done to each character. However, things have started to change and a big part of that is because Rhea Ripley is excelling in her role. The next phase of her development should lead to a run as the WWE Raw Women’s Champion.

When Ripley’s character changed while in NXT UK, it was clear that she was destined for big things. The first phases of those plans came to fruition in NXT, where she dominated the title picture. Moving up to Monday Night Raw didn’t do her the favors that many expected as her initial presentation as a big-time star was botched. Instead of allowing her to reign supreme with a victory over Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, she was defeated by the Four Horsewomen mainstay and her character has languished much since.

Still, that hasn’t hindered Ripley in getting her moments in with Judgement Day over with the viewing public. Finding new ways to demolish Dominick and Rey Mysterio should be a heel tactic, but it still gets a pop out of fans every week.

Ripley missing her match against Bianca Belair was a shock to everyone, but thanks to changes in WWE creative this can become an opportunity to build the feud between these two ladies that everyone wants to see. Many of the top stars in the industry have career-defining feuds. The Usos have The New Day. John Cena had Edge and Randy Orton. Kenny Omega has Kazuchika Okada. The list goes on and on. Ripley and Belair could be that for the WWE women’s division.

How WWE gets the championship around Ripley’s waist is an interesting question. Right now, Belair is tied into a major feud with Bayley. That could and probably should lead to a title change. Bayley is just returning from her injury and her response is going to remain strong for weeks and months to come. Putting the championship on her would be the right decision. Ripley could play the foil to Bayley in the future, but her character would need to be more of a tweener instead of a clear-cut babyface or heel.

Ripley should also be a front runner for the winner of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble. She’s come close multiple times and she’s destined to win this event at least once. Allowing her to pick up the win here and challenge either Bayley or Belair at WrestleMania in Hollywood would be an exceptional arc for this run of her character.

Rhea Ripley is already a star and it’s time to get the main roster run that has eluded her so far. Judgement Day, while shaky at the start, can help her get to that destination.