Jade Cargill’s absence from the April 24 SmackDown raised eyebrows given her uncertain status following her Women’s Championship loss to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 42 — but the explanation has nothing to do with WWE booking. Cargill was in Cincinnati attending her husband Brandon Phillips’ induction into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, a significant personal milestone for the longtime Reds standout.
The couple has been together since 2015, and Cargill’s decision to prioritize the moment underscores that her SmackDown absence was entirely a matter of real-life family commitments rather than any sign of creative uncertainty or tension with the company. Phillips had a distinguished career with the Reds and the Hall of Fame induction represents one of the most meaningful honors a former player can receive from their franchise.
Jade Cargill Has Already Spoken Openly About Not Knowing Whether She Will Get a Rematch for the Women’s Championship
The timing of the absence comes as Cargill has been candid about the uncertainty surrounding her next WWE chapter. Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, she acknowledged she does not know if a rematch with Ripley is coming — noting the inconsistency with which rematch opportunities are granted in the current WWE landscape and referencing her own experience of not receiving a rematch after originally losing the title. Cargill held the Women’s Championship for 169 days before Ripley ended her reign at WrestleMania 42 Night Two in Las Vegas, with Cargill herself calling the run a “practice run” and vowing her next championship reign will be different.
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