Rhea Ripley was able to power her way through Nia Jax on the latest edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. It was her first title defense since taking the title back from Liv Morgan to kick off 2025. With the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season on the horizon, it’s time for Ripley to get a fresh challenger. Looking at who is available on the Monday Night Raw roster, it’s time for WWE to do something different.
WWE is set to get back two power players in the women’s division. Both Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are reportedly close to returns. Fightful Select recently reported that WWE is looking to book Tiffany Stratton versus Flair for WrestleMania, which would be a huge match. Flair winning the Rumble again would be an easy option, as she’s someone the company leans on when they need a big name at the top of the women’s division.
So what does that mean for the Raw women’s division? The easy answer for that show is to go with Lynch as Ripley’s challenger. But that’s an angle that WWE has done before; one that doesn’t immediately create excitement at the top of the card.
However, the WWE Raw women’s division is “weak” with top names who could look like true threats to Ripley as champion. Iyo Sky has already challenged multiple times, recently losing to Morgan. Perhaps there’s hope in performers like Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, but they are tucked away in the tag team division. They could have gone with Raquel Rodriguez, but it looks like WWE is heading in an entirely different direction with Judgment Day.
Enter Jordynne Grace. Grace has already appeared in WWE multiple times. She was a surprise entrant in the Rumble and has taken part in matches in WWE NXT. Her time with TNA Wrestling is reportedly over and many expect her to sign with WWE. Imagine her being in the 2025 women’s Rumble and having a standout performance. She doesn’t have to win it, but what if she’s the one to eliminate Lynch, Bianca Belair, or another big name – setting the tone for her place on the roster. Seeing her win a match like Elimination Chamber and having her head to WrestleMania 41 to take on Ripley would be a great change of pace for a women’s division that needs it.
Grace is an important figure in women's wrestling. One look at her resume and its clear that she's a legit performer. She's held titles in nearly every organization where she's performed. She's held the TNA Knockouts Championship for a combined 677 days, across three title reigns. Grace looks the part of WWE Superstar, and she immediately fits the bill as title threat. Grace and Ripley locking up would be a huge moment and it is one that WWE needs to capitalize on this year.
Rhea Ripley needs a new name to make her championship run interesting. WWE has a talented roster, but the company should look to a “fresh” name in Jordynne Grace to be the next top challenger for the WWE Women’s World Champion.