Morning Daily News Update: June 17, 2026 – Rhea Ripley Could Miss WWE Night Of Champions

Good morning, all!

It’s Wednesday, and it’s time for the Morning Daily News Update!

We’ve also got Niz’s review of last night’s episode of WWE NXT to take a look at!

Rhea Ripley’s WWE Night Of Champions Status In Doubt

WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley could be in danger of missing Night of Champions after recently suffering a knee injury. WWE revealed on SmackDown that Ripley is currently undergoing evaluation, and speculation about her status increased after she was removed from updated promotional material for the June 27 event and replaced by Tiffany Stratton. While WWE has not officially announced that Ripley will miss the show, the promotional change has raised questions about whether she will be able to appear in Riyadh later this month.

LA Knight Allegedly Has Heat With WWE Office Amid Recent Booking Decisions

Former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman and co-host JD have questioned WWE’s current booking of LA Knight, arguing that one of the company’s most popular stars lacks a clear direction. Speaking on Behind The Turnbuckle Studios, both suggested Knight appears genuinely frustrated during his recent Bloodline-related appearances and questioned the long-term purpose of his involvement with Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso and Roman Reigns. Coachman went further, speculating that Knight may have “heat” with WWE management, citing his recent losses despite strong fan support. Both men argued that Knight would be better served in a prominent championship storyline rather than remaining on the fringes of the Bloodline angle.

The Rock’s Daughter Ava Responds To Criticism Over Charlie Kirk Post

Ava has spoken about the backlash she received in 2025 after sharing a social media post that many interpreted as a reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Appearing on a podcast, Ava said she was accustomed to criticism from wrestling fans but was surprised by the volume of negative responses from conservative commentators and social media users who she felt did not know who she was. The controversy stemmed from a message she shared shortly after Kirk’s death, urging people to be kind while they are alive. Despite calls from some online users for WWE to take action against her, Ava said she stood by the post, and WWE never publicly addressed the situation.

WWE Raw On Netflix Global Views Rebound From Record Low

The June 8 episode of WWE Raw drew 2.4 million global views on Netflix, rebounding from the record-low 2.0 million views posted the previous week. Despite the increase, it was still the second-lowest audience for Raw since moving to the streaming platform and continued a downward trend that has persisted since WrestleMania 42. The show generated 4.5 million hours viewed, ranked sixth globally on Netflix for the week, and reached the top ten in 22 countries, including a sixth-place finish in the United States.