Rhea Ripley Says It’s Going To Be Weird Not Regularly Teaming With IYO SKY: “It’s Kind Of Sad To Think About”

Ripley is back in the singles division.

On the February 27th Friday Night SmackDown, the duo of Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY lost their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship to Lash Legend and Nia Jax.

The following day, Ripley was competing in the women’s Elimination Chamber match and emerged victorious. With the victory, Ripley secured herself a WWE Women’s Championship match against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42.

After her victory, Ripley joined Sam Roberts and Megan Morant on WWE Now and opened up about the reality that she will not be regularly teaming with IYO SKY for the foreseeable future.

“There’s always been respect between IYO (SKY) and I no matter what we’re doing and moving forward, the respect will still be there. Obviously, I wanna be there for her through whatever she’s going through and whatever comes, and I know that she’s got my back with everything that’s gonna be coming my direction as well with SmackDown and Jade (Cargill). But I also… I can’t read the future. Obviously, the tag team stuff might have to be put on hold for a little bit but, whatever she’s doing, I’m still gonna be there for her and vice versa. I don’t know. It’s kind of sad to think about because I feel like IYO’s kind of been in my life here in the WWE over the past, like, what? Year and a half? We’ve been pretty much inseparable, whether we’ve been facing each other or we’ve been tagging together. Just growing that bond. I’ve seen her family betray her. She’s seen my family betray me, and we’ve been there and we’ve helped each other through everything and she’s kind of been the one to pull me out of that dark place where I didn’t trust anyone. I didn’t think that friends are real. I didn’t think that I could form a bond with anyone and trust anyone and there’s IYO being a little ray of sunshine that you just can’t help but to love. Yeah, it’s gonna be weird. It’s gonna be very, very weird. I can’t tell exactly what’s gonna happen but, if she ever needs me, I’m gonna be there and vice versa. I know she’s got my back through thick and thin.”

Cargill is the champion on SmackDown, while IYO SKY is assigned to the Raw brand. Ripley will be heading to SmackDown for the build to WrestleMania 42.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit WWE Now with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.