Issues between Rhea Ripley and Mercedes Martinez have been simmering for weeks. Before Martinez even signed on with the brand, Ripley has issues with Mercedes’ manager Robert Stone.
Everything came to a head last week when the pioneering veteran cost Rhea the chance to pick up a win over Dakota Kai & Raquel González, and with it move on step closer to challenging her tag partner Io Shirai for the NXT Women’s title. That was enough to get the Nightmare to suggest this...
.@RheaRipley_WWE lays out a challenge to @RealMMartinez. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/iDNMEgKS52
— WWE (@WWE) September 2, 2020
“Mercedes Martinez. I am sick and tired of you and the Robert Stone Brand sticking your nose in my business. I thought you got the message when I powerbombed you onto the concrete. But apparently you’re too thick for that. So now? Now I’m gonna have to rip you limb from limb. But I don’t want to do that in an ordinary match. I want to do this in a steel cage match!”
It didn’t take long for Martinez to respond. Her answer was short and sweet.
"Next Tuesday, it's ON."@RealMMartinez has accepted @RheaRipley_WWE's challenge to battle in a STEEL CAGE next week on #WWENXT! #NXTSuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/YaZa9lNNFD
— WWE (@WWE) September 2, 2020
This brutal affair joins the NXT title clash between Finn Bálor and Adam Cole on the card for Sept. 8, another NXT that will be bumped to Tuesday by USA’s coverage of the National Hockey League playoffs.