IYO SKY Wins the Women’s WWE Title by Dethroning Rhea Ripley

IYO SKY challenged Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship on the March 3rd episode of WWE RAW. Since she will be facing the winner at WrestleMania as a result of her victory in the Women’s Elimination Chamber, Bianca Belair joined the commentary team for the match.

Ripley was defending the championship for the second time against the former WWE Women’s Champion, 46 days after she had reclaimed it from Liv Morgan and 46 days before she would have faced Bianca Belair, the winner of the women’s Elimination Chamber. Belair arrived first to sit ringside and observe as her opponent for WrestleMania was decided.

This led to a fiercely contested back-and-forth title match that fluctuated before the final moments. SKY once mimicked the manoeuvres of her Damage CTRL teammates who were not present. She made a near-fall by using Dakota Kai’s Kaio Kick and Kairi Sane’s InSane elbow, then locked in the Asuka Lock until Ripley broke it at the ropes.

At the last second, Ripley would place her foot on the ropes as IYO SKY performed an Over The Moonsault for a near-fall. However, Ripley battled to her advantage once more, but Belair’s support for her opponent diverted her attention. The champion took offence at that, knocking Belair over after getting in her face. Belair nearly disqualified Ripley by yanking her back off the ring apron, but referee Jessika Carr intervened and persuaded Ripley to go back to her title bout.

Ripley gestured to Belair before hoisting her opponent up, looking to complete the Riptide from the top rope. But with a hurricanrana, SKY turned the tables on the finisher, giving Ripley the opportunity to do a second Over the Moonsault in the centre of the ring and winning the title via pinfall. Belair and SKY were shown staring down at one other while glancing at the WrestleMania sign, while Ripley was depicted lying at ringside, furious after her defeat.

Ripley shoved Belair after confronting her during the game. The referee separated them after Blair pushed her back. Sky used the Over The Moonsault to win because Ripley was still preoccupied with Belair.