Jade Cargill Disrespects Rhea Ripley On WWE SmackDown With Subtle Gesture
Jade Cargill made an interesting move on WWE SmackDown that some people might see as disrespectful.
Rhea Ripley won the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match in Chicago, and her reward for that big victory is to challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
After the match was set, Ripley and Cargill exchanged back-and-forth comments on social media that riled up many people. Did they really not like eachother? Is it a work? It’s up to the WWE fans to decide.
On WWE SmackDown in Portland, Rhea Ripley started a promo that led to the WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill coming out second, for an interesting promo exchange.
Jade extended her left hand, and Ripley shook it. Jade explained she shook Ripley’s hand out of respect for Rhea and all her accomplishments. Jade mentioned she respects how Ripley earned her shot at WrestleMania. She added that she respects how hard Ripley works to build her physique.
Jade then claimed she was not impressed. She said Ripley’s arms are big, but her bar is bigger. She said Ripley’s legs are powerful, but hers are more powerful, and she is more powerful overall. Jade declared that at WrestleMania, she will beat Ripley badly, and there’s nothing Ripley can do about it because Jade is that b**ch. Finally, Jade dropped her microphone.
Regarding the handshake, lifelong WWE fan O’Shea Jackson, an actor and wrestling podcast host, noted on X that Jade making Rhea shake her left hand was disrespectful.
“Let it be noted that Jade extended the left hand to begin the convo. A common sign of disrespect in the Black community. #smackdown”
Let it be noted that Jade extended the left hand to begin the convo. A common sign of disrespect in the Black community. #smackdown
— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) March 7, 2026
Rhea Ripley Was Not Intimidated By Jade Cargill
In response to Jade’s promo, Rhea Ripley extended her right hand for a shake, and Jade shook it. Ripley said she respected Jade’s honesty. Ripley said now she knows what Jade thinks about her. Ripley mentioned she doesn’t impress Jade physically, but Rhea said Jade impressed her physically. Ripley pointed out that Jade might have bigger shoulders, bigger arms, bigger legs, and bigger hands, but if you hit Ripley with your best shot, do you really think Ripley will stay down? Ripley said no to that.
Ripley added that if she hits Jade with her best shot, then there’s no way Jade will get back up. Ripley explained that Jade’s body is built for show, while Ripley’s body is built for fighting. Ripley said she works out so her body can survive and thrive in this business. She told Jade to flex all she wants because it doesn’t matter—Ripley is going to fight.
To conclude, Ripley said she’ll take that title from Jade and do it with force. She claimed there’s nothing Jade can do about it because Ripley is that bi**h. Ripley then dropped her microphone and left.
The next WWE PLE is WrestleMania 42 on April 18 & April 19 in Las Vegas. Here’s the lineup so far:
* WWE World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns
* WWE Undisputed Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton
* WWE Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan
* WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
There will be more matches added in the weeks ahead.
WrestleMania 42 will STREAM LIVE Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on ESPN in the United States and Netflix everywhere else.