5 Reasons why Jade Cargill is out of the 2026 WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament

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By failing to advance, the former WWE Women’s Champion has to go back to the drawing board when it comes to her title aspirations. Some stars are always thrust into title pictures, even after losing one.

It happened with Nia Jax against both Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton. After SmackDown, it appears Cargill could be receiving the same treatment. Cargill is out of the 2026 Queen of the Ring Tournament for any of the next five possible reasons.

#5. Had her title run and feud with Rhea Ripley

Cargill won the WWE Women’s Title at Saturday Night’s Main Event last November. Bookers didn’t do her any favors, as she made her first defense 100 days into her run.

As WrestleMania 42 inched closer, it was apparent she was in for a big feud with one of the industry’s top stars, Rhea Ripley. Ripley defeated Cargill at the Show of Shows and again in their rematch at Clash in Italy.

Their feud is over, especially with SummerSlam in sight. Had she advanced, the likelihood of the final match in their trilogy could have been set up through the tournament. It’s time for both women to move on to different feuds.

#4. She could move to RAW once SmackDown goes back to two hours

Several stars have moved brands following WrestleMania. Jacob Fatu randomly moved to RAW to feud with Roman Reigns. Gunther went the other way to clash with Cody Rhodes. Finn Balor is now a member of SmackDown.

Cargill has been a member of the blue brand since joining WWE a few years ago. She’s feuded with Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, and Rhea Ripley.

While she has tangled with stars from RAW like Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and others, she could open up more feuds with a move to Monday Nights. Since her work is done in the tournament, a move from SmackDown could be in the cards.

Cutting an hour off the run time will mean some stars won’t be featured as much. Cargill probably wouldn’t have suffered from the time change, but could move to RAW.

#3. She’s going after Tiffany Stratton’s Women’s United States Championship

While The Storm just came out of a title feud, WWE has thrust Tiffany Stratton back in her path over the last few weeks. Stratton teamed with Flair against Cargill last week and lost.

Her minions, B-Fab and Michin, defeated Stratton and Chelsea Green on the latest SmackDown. After beating Tiffie down yet again, Cargill eyed the Women’s United States Championship.

She beat Stratton for the WWE Women’s Title, so she probably thinks it will happen with a different title. While it would just be rehashing a feud she already had, it could be the direction bookers take for the two stars as SummerSlam approaches.

#2. WWE has teased a rivalry between Jade Cargill and Charlotte Flair

While they haven’t had a singles match quite yet, WWE has heavily teased the inevitable showdown numerous times over the years. The two crossed paths backstage when Cargill was making her decision of which brand to join.

They had a few staredowns in the Royal Rumble. Once Alexa Bliss and Flair were enveloped by Ripley’s feud with Cargill, the interactions intensified. One would interfere in the other’s matches.

Since they clashed in the same Queen of the Ring qualifier and Flair moved on, that cannot sit well with the extremely confident Cargill. It’s the nature of alpha males/females when they run into each other.

With Flair advancing and Cargill likely having sour grapes, it could mean she costs The Queen in the semifinals or finals to get to the eventual one-on-one clash. It would be worthy of SummerSlam, and the PLE is going to two nights for the first time.

#1. Going back to back as Queen of the Ring would be overkill

One of the simplest reasons why Cargill is out of the 2026 Queen of the Ring Tournament is that she won the whole thing last year. It’s only been an annual event for the last few years.

Since then, only Zelina Vega, Nia Jax, and Cargill have worn the crown. Unfortunately for Vega, she wasn’t awarded a title shot at SummerSlam. Since the former AEW star literally won the tournament in 2025, doing so again would have been overkill when others on the roster could have used the victory.

Flair has also had infinitely more title opportunities than more than half the roster, but hasn’t held singles gold in a few years. Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble is one of the few exceptions since WWE drew out finishing his story with Roman Reigns.