The Road to WrestleMania continues to wind as yet another unexpected, huge twist happened on Monday night as IYO SKY shocked the world and defeated Rhea Ripley to become the new Raw Women’s World Champion thanks to an unintentional assist from the Women’s Elimination Chamber winner. SKY is headed to the WrestleMania 41 card. Let’s unpack what went down.
#AndNEW: IYO SKY Joins WrestleMania 41 Card as Women’s Champion
Death, taxes, and IYO SKY beating Rhea Ripley. That was the narrative heading into the match as SKY reminded the champ on several occasions she had her number. Ripley reminded SKY she was a much different wrestler than the one who was in NXT when SKY defeated her over and over again, but it was clear throughout the match that the thought was in the back of Ripley’s head.
Both Ripley and SKY were incredible and gave each other everything they had. Each had the other well scouted and landed a series of huge moves that the other somehow kicked out of. Ripley used her power and SKY used her aerial creativity. Things were relatively even until SKY hit a codebreaker that left Ripley favoring her left arm. That arm became a target for SKY throughout the rest of the match. But still, SKY couldn’t put Ripley away despite giving her opponent her absolute best. Ripley managed to stay in the match and hit some huge moves of her own including just battering SKY face first into the apron.
Ripley tried on multiple occasions but couldn’t hit the Riptide as her record against SKY started to weigh on her. SKY had a sequence where she channeled all of Damage CNTRL, using moves inspired by Asuka, Kairi Saine, and Dakota Kai but still, Ripley wouldn’t stay down. As the crowd chanted, “This is Awesome,” SKY continued to counter or prevent Ripley’s submission and finisher attempts. Action moved to the outside as SKY hit Ripley with a huge sunset flip powerbomb to throw her into the barricade. SKY got Ripley back in the ring and landed the Over the Moonsault but Ripley got her foot on the bottom rope. SKY with a huge crossbody to take out Ripley but Ripley followed up sending SKY face first into the announce table. And this is where it started to get interesting.
Bianca Belair was sitting by the announce desk, taking in the match to see who her WrestleMania opponent would be. Belair was engaged, clapping on both women as the official began to call for the count. Ripley rolled back in the ring at 5 and as Belair encouraged SKY on, she just beat the count at 9. Ripley watched it all happen and as SKY laid in the ring recovering, Ripley took her focus off the matter at hand and got in Belair’s face accusing her of cheering for SKY. Ripley pushed Belair and Belair pushed her back. The ref could have called for a DQ but instead let the match continue and separated the two. Belair retreated to her chair and told Ripley she was just watching. Back in the ring, Ripley carried SKY to the top looking for a massive Riptide. She turned to Belair and said, “See you at WrestleMania.”
The words seemed prophetic and it’s save to say most people probably felt that Ripley was going to put SKY away with the Riptide right there. But no, SKY countered the move into a Hurricanrana and hit her second Over the Moonsault. And that was it. SKY once again emerged victorious over Ripley and this time, it was with a WrestleMania main event on the line.
It’s a huge shake up to the card but if the last few days have told us anything, it’s this. Expect the unexpected on the Road to WrestleMania 41.
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