WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley sustained a visible facial injury during a singles match on the most recent episode of SmackDown. The injury occurred during her match against Giulia held at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida and it’s believed that it happened when Rhea took the curb stomp. After the match, a facial mark was visible on Ripley.
As seen in the clip below, Rhea has a significant black eye. The champion accompanied her post on Instagram with a message directed toward her opponent, stating “happy birthday” to Giulia.
Currently, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Ripley and IYO SKY, are involved in a rivalry with Giulia and Kiana James. Ripley is also scheduled to compete in the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match.
This incident marks the third notable facial injury Ripley has sustained in recent years. In 2024, she suffered an “Orbital socket/broken nose injury” that required her to wear a protective mask during competition. In 2025, she sustained a second broken nose injury, which again necessitated the use of a facial mask.
Rhea Ripley’s black eye 😬 pic.twitter.com/a8B0OseCMZ
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) February 22, 2026
