Prior to her victory in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Bayley loudly proclaimed that if she won the match, she intended to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley for her title at WrestleMania 40. Ripley, however, believes “The Role Model” should be looking elsewhere right now.

Following Bayley’s Royal Rumble win, ‘The Eradicator’ addressed this previous claim during an interview with Denise Salcedo, suggesting that Bayley may be better served by looking inward at her Damage CTRL stablemates, particularly WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY.

“I love Bayley. I think she’s great,” Ripley said. “I’ve danced with her in the ring a couple times, and we’ve teamed together with WarGames and all that.I want to say that she has love for me too, and she wouldn’t choose me for Wrestlemania and just throw away her ticket to WrestleMania like that. If I were her, I would keep my eyes on the people around her because it’s good to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”

As Ripley alluded to, recent months have seen the majority of Damage CTRL (IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane) gradually distance themselves from Bayley. Coming off her Royal Rumble win, Bayley now has an opportunity to confront that divide head-on by facing SKY for her title at WrestleMania 40. 

For right now, though, wrestling fans will have to stay tuned to find out which champion Bayley will officially issue a challenge to. 

Assessing The Royal Rumble Field

While she didn’t partake in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley kept a close eye on the events that unfolded within the match. In surveying her potential competition, Ripley noted this year’s entrants thoroughly impressed her, making her even more excited to see who would eventually prevail. 

“I was just standing there watching it and I’m like ‘Yo, all of these women they’re competitors.’ I could easily step in the ring with any one of them and you would think that I’m in danger and I love that,” Ripley said.

“That’s a way that the women’s division is thriving and it’s all about competition. I live for that, so I was so over the moon and thrilled to see these women going in there and getting their opportunity to shine. Then watching the whole thing, like everyone did so exceptionally well. I’m proud of our division. We really showed everyone exactly what we’ve got and I’m very proud of them.”

This year’s field featured several surprises as well, including the returns of Naomi (also known as Trinity) and Liv Morgan. Recent signee Jade Cargill also made her official WWE in-ring debut, eliminating the likes of Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Naomi during her outing. 

As the WWE Royal Rumble approaches, Bayley is ready to show the wrestling world that 2024 will be her year. She helped make Damage CTRL (Iyo Sky, Asuka, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai) one of the dominant groups in the WWE. While she is proud of the success of her faction, ‘The Role Model’ wants to win gold and cement her legacy this year.

In an interview with Uproxx Sports, Bayley boasted that she believes she is on a different level than her peers and plans to prove it at the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27. Uproxx Sports’ Raj Prashad transcribed the following quotes. 

“To me, this year in particular is about cementing my legacy and my career,” Bayley said. “I’ve done a lot up until this point. With Damage CTRL, I feel like I’m on a different level than everybody else, even the women that I came up with because it comes with a different responsibility.” 

This year marks Bayley’s fifth attempt at winning the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. However, ‘The Role Model’ is seemingly one of the favorites to be victorious and challenging for a woman’s title. 

Bayley’s Chances Of Winning The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

She is currently involved in a storyline where her group is counting on her to win and challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. She also aims for all members of Damage CTRL to hold titles at the same time this year. 

“Let me just say it, this is the last time I’m gonna say it. IYO is champion, right? And in Damage CTRL, that means we’re all kind of a champion,” said Bayley.

She explains, “She deserves to have that all to her own. Kabuki Warriors, we’re gonna get them those tag titles because it’s what they deserve. If I get a title from Rhea Ripley, how cool would that look?” 

She added that she wants Kai to win the NXT Women’s Championship when she is cleared to wrestle again. This would mark a rare achievement, with an all-female faction in WWE simultaneously holding all the women’s titles in the company. 

“…We’re about making history. We’re about never before seen, and we’re about taking over the world. So, the only way we could do that is by knocking Mami off her little high horse. She thinks she’s the stuff right now. Wait til I get my hands on her,” said Bayley.

It’s unclear if Bayley will ultimately win, as she has 29 other opponents vying to defeat her in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. That said, the former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion remains confident that she will shock the world and have her moment this weekend. 

Rhea Ripley has become one of WWE’s very top Superstars, but that has only come about after she narrowly avoided being released. 

Ripley is WWE’s reigning Women’s World Champion, a reign that began at WrestleMania 39 with her SmackDown Women’s Championship win over Charlotte Flair. Ripley’s work with The Judgment Day has been praised by fans and has helped make the ‘Mami’ one of WWE’s must-see Superstars. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT9DIey1Ts

Ripley Is True to Herself

With her unique look, Ripley certainly stands out among the roster of WWE’s women. When she debuted in WWE, Ripley had a more traditional look to her, complete with long, blonde hair. During a recent interview with The Ringer, Ripley recalled trying to fit in with what she believed WWE wanted from her, which ironically led to talks about whether to let her go. 

“I was on the chopping block. I nearly got fired a few times. I don’t know if they wanted me to know that, but I did know that

Realizing that a change needed to be made, Ripley looked to her taste in music and the performers she has gravitated toward throughout her life. 

“They didn’t care about what anyone thought. And I really aspired to be like that. I love the studded jackets, I love the painted jackets. I love the black makeup, the black hair. I’ve always loved that grungy look. And that’s been me, deep down. I’ve just been hiding it for so long because I was trying to be the girl next door, the beachy sort of vibes, but it wasn’t me.”

Ripley’s most recent title defense saw the Eradicator retain against Ivy Nile on the Day 1 edition of Monday Night Raw. She is not booked to compete at this weekend’s Royal Rumble event. 

 Rhea Ripley recently reached another milestone in her WWE career… 

WWE knows how to make an announcement, and that includes telling Superstars about big career moments. We’ve seen countless videos of NXT Superstars discovering that they’re getting called up to the WWE main roster. Now, WWE has dropped a new video where Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair discover about a huge career landmark.

WWE 2k24 Cover Superstars

WWE Games unveiled the cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, creating excitement among fans. Cody Rhodes is set to be featured on the regular version’s cover, while Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will be jointly featured on the deluxe edition cover. Further insights into the upcoming game were also revealed.

As part of the information release on January 22nd, a trailer was unveiled, offering more details. Fans are excited, but just imagine being told that you’re on the cover of the upcoming game.

Triple H’s Big WWE 2K24 Reveal

WWE released a video of Triple H telling Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley that they landed the cover of WWE 2K24. They were actually brought to the photo shoot in question under the guise of it being for WWE 2K23, but that was not the case.

Needless to say, Rhodes, Ripley, and Belair were incredibly excited about the news that they will be cover Superstars. Not only is this a huge honor, but it also comes with a nice paycheck.

After the big news was dropped, the three top WWE Superstars took part in a photo shoot, where they had a blast celebrating their recent career benchmark.

Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair & Rhea Ripley find out in real time that they’re the cover stars for #WWE2K24.@CodyRhodes @BiancaBelairWWE @RheaRipley_WWE pic.twitter.com/Uvh7zD4qxp

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) January 22, 2024

WWE 2K24 Release Date

WWE 2K24 will come out on all current generation consoles. As of this writing, we are still waiting on a full roster reveal.

The new game will have two waves for their release dates. On March 5th, WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will drop.

The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game will come out on March 8th. Pre-order is now open.

Fans waited for a big announcement from WWE2K 24 today, and it was certainly delivered. Now, we have even more information about what to expect.

WWE 2K24 Promises New Experience

WWE Games announced their cover Superstars for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game, and fans have a reason to be excited. Cody Rhodes will grace the cover of the regular version, whereas Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are sharing the deluxe edition. Now, we have more information about the upcoming game.

A trailer was also released as part of the information roll-out on January 22nd. This includes even more tidbits about the upcoming Forty Years of WrestleMania mode.

It appears that the 40 years of WrestleMania mode will allow gamers to re-live every past Mania event. This could be an incredible undertaking, and they included a bit of text within the trailer to paint this picture.

Re-Live Forty Years of WrestleMania

All-New Match Types

New Career Mode Experiences

WWE 2K24 Downloadable Content

The Nightmare Family Pack will also be included in this game. That will feature four playable Superstars, including Dusty Rhodes, Dashing Cody Rhodes (in facemask), Stardust, and Superstar Billy Graham.

This will also include new MyFaction cards, including Pharaoh as a manager. Stardust’s inclusion in the game is incredibly interesting, considering Cody’s reluctance to give it a huge spotlight since his return.

WWE 2K24 Release Date

The new game will have two waves for their release dates. On March 5th, WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions will drop.

The standard and cross-gen digital editions of the game will come out on March 8th. Pre-order is now open.

WWE 2K24 has generated some major excitement among gamers for its upcoming release, and the teasers are keeping fans intrigued. Now we know who got the cover of the game this year.

It's time to write the next chapter. ? #WWE2K24

Pre-order today » https://t.co/rdAB95lWLU pic.twitter.com/2N68wGSiyw

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) January 22, 2024

WWE 2K24 Cover Superstar Revealed

2K announced that Cody Rhodes will be the cover Superstar for the upcoming WWE 2K24 game. He will be on the cover of the regular version.

The WWE Games account made this big announcement as they included some lyrics from Cody’s famous Kingdom theme song, “Crowd is here, about to blow Waitin’ for me to start the show Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home. WOAAAAHHH”

? Crowd is here, about to blow
Waitin’ for me to start the show
Out the curtain, lights go up, I’m home ?

??WHOAAAAAA! #WWE2K24 pic.twitter.com/ZWf0KL1dVv

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) January 22, 2024

WWE 2K24 Deluxe Version

The WWE Games account also unveiled that Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley will share the cover of the deluxe edition of the game. They are sharing the cover in a stylish split-screen fashion.

While saying that the deluxe edition of the game is the EST, they also noted, “Two groundbreaking superstars. One historic cover.”

Two groundbreaking superstars. One historic cover ? ?

The #WWE2K24 Deluxe Edition is the EST pic.twitter.com/PdWyVRlMFx

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) January 22, 2024

Forty Years Of WrestleMania

WWE Games also announced that the upcoming WWE 2K24 game will include a special feature called “Forty Years of WrestleMania.” 

It is unclear what that feature will include at this time, but there will likely be a lot more updates to come. This could have also been why WWE Games dropped so many legendary teases over the past few days.

They sent out an Instagram post with a photo of a referee shirt and tagged “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the photo, which drew a lot of attention.

2K then dropped a very clear Undertaker hint, followed by John Cena dropping a photo of an NWO t-shirt with a WWE 2K24 logo on the hanger.

Relive ?? years of body slams, championships, and unforgettable ICONS ? #WWE2K24 pic.twitter.com/RMI2eHcjW7

— #WWE2K25 (@WWEgames) January 22, 2024

When WWE 2K24 Will Be Released

The release date for WWE 2K24 has not been announced at the moment, but examining the timing of last year’s release provides some insight into what to anticipate.

WWE 2K23, reviewed favorably by SEScoops, was launched on March 14th, 2023, available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has got a new ink.

Rhea Ripley has become a formidable superstar in WWE and experienced a meteoric rise in WWE after joining The Judgment Day. Her affinity towards body ink is no secret. In addition to her in-ring prowess, ‘Mami’ is recognized for her distinctive canvas of tattoos and they are very personal representations of her identity and her journey in life. With a variety of tattoos, Ripley has created a distinct look that is fitting for her character.

Rhe Ripley reveals her new ink

That being said, Rhea Ripley recently took to Twitter and flaunted her new tattoo on the back of her neck. It seems that it is a set of wings.

Judgment Day – Mami ??? pic.twitter.com/Gk26g6X2yb

— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) January 22, 2024

As we approach the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event this weekend, it’s worth noting that she has fond memories of the event. ‘The Eradicator’ had won last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match and earned a title shot. She defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to capture the gold. This year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match will see a new winner and her reign could be at jeopardy at WrestleMania 40.

On the most recent edition of SmackDown, Bayley was ringside for the women’s tag team match. She called out Rhea Ripley and referred to herself as the ‘Mami Slayer.’ Bayley has been considered to be a favorite to win this year’s high-stakes match. On the other hand, Ripley and Becky Lynch recently had a confrontation which could to WrestleMania 40 as well. It is to be seen who steps up to Rhea Ripley next. 

Royal Rumble 2024 WWE Premium Live Event which will emanate live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 27.

Damage CTRL’s Bayley has set her sights on the WWE Women’s World Championship and hopes to capture the gold at WrestleMania 40. 

On this week’s SmackDown, Bayley sat on commentary for the Women’s Tag Team Championship bout between champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter and challengers Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. During her time behind the table, Bayley dubbed herself the ‘Mami-Slayer’ and vowed to win the Women’s Royal Rumble. 

Given that IYO SKY is the WWE Women’s Champion, Bayley made it clear she plans to challenge Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. To add insult to injury, Bayley wore one of Ripley’s shirts for the show. 

Call me the Mami Slayer.
I’m coming for you Rhea Ripley.#RoyalRumble #SmackDown @RheaRipley_WWE pic.twitter.com/HbCK8PKB7n

— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) January 20, 2024

Bayley Vs. Rhea Ripley

Bayley and Rhea Ripley have shared the ring as opponents a total of four times. To date, their only singles match took place on the March 20, 2023, edition of Raw, and saw Ripley get the win. Their first encounter would be a triple-threat on the December 5, 2022, Raw alongside Asuka that Bayley would win. They have also competed in the 2021 and 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble matches, the latter of which Ripley would win. 

Another Challenger

Bayley isn’t the only Superstar with her sights set on The Judgment Day’s resident Mami. On Raw this week, Becky Lynch confronted Rhea Ripley and made it clear she plans to win the Women’s Rumble and challenge the Eradicator. Ripley, who had previously warned the roster not to waste their Rumble win by challenging her, said she is rooting for Lynch to win the match. 

The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Bayley was the first Superstar to be declared for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. She is joined by Nia Jax and former Rumble winners Becky Lynch (2019 winner) and Bianca Belair (2021 winner.)

Bayley plans on winning the Women’s Royal Rumble match, unless… 

Becky Lynch plans on making history at the upcoming Royal Rumble PLE and has her sights set on a WrestleMania showdown with Rhea Ripley. 

On this week’s Raw, Rhea Ripley spoke about the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. Ripley said that whichever woman wins the match shouldn’t waste their opportunity by challenging her for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. 

This brought out Lynch, who was declared for the Women’s Rumble match during the WWE 2024 Preview Special earlier this month. Lynch vowed to make history by becoming the first two-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Lynch also made it clear that if when she wins, she’ll challenge Ripley at WrestleMania 40. Ripley seemed amused by the idea and said she’s rooting for Lynch to win. 

Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley

Arguably WWE’s two most popular women on the roster at this time, Lynch and Ripley have shared the ring as adversaries on five occasions. Their first match was on the November 20, 2019, edition of WWE NXT and ended in a no-contest. The most recent match between the two was at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2022. In the titular structure, Lynch, alongside Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and Bianca Belair, defeated Ripley, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY. 

This week’s Raw isn’t the first time Lynch has made it clear she wants Ripley. Last month, The Man said that she was sick and tired of the Australian’s lengthy title run. 

WWE Royal Rumble 2024

Here is the card as it stands for the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event

• Men’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER)

• Women’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair)

• Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

• Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

Don’t expect to see Becky Lynch in any other wrestling promotion… 

Eager to secure herself a singles match at WrestleMania 40, former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was the first to declare herself for the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble. And while the event is still nearly two weeks away, Bayley has made it clear that if she wins the Women’s Royal Rumble match, she plans to challenge WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

Praise For Ripley

Speaking with The New York Post, Bayley shared praise for Ripley’s journey through WWE, which has resulted in her now being the most talked about woman on WWE programming.

“If I’m able to work with [Rhea] at WrestleMania, that would just be a dream match I never even thought of before,” Bayley said. “She is obviously untouchable. She is the most talked about woman on TV right now and she backs it up. She doesn’t just have the look. She doesn’t just have the body. She doesn’t just have – besides Damage CTRL – a badass group to align with. She’s so good and it makes me so mad. ‘I’m like why are you so good, you are so young.’ I can’t even throw a drop kick and she can do one over my head. Just little things that she does that she’s able to do and portray on TV is very hard to do and she does it with ease.”

Excluding past Royal Rumble matches, “The Role Model” and “The Eradicator” have only shared a ring on three other occasions. After teaming together in the 2022 Women’s WarGames match, Ripley and Bayley found themselves in opposite corners during a triple threat match to determine the number one contender to the WWE RAW Women’s Championship — a match that saw Bayley emerge victorious. The two later met again in March 2023 for a singles affair on RAW, in which Ripley picked up the win. 

Should Bayley and Ripley face off at WrestleMania 40, it will mark only their second singles match. 

“She carried that title on her back proudly,” Bayley said. “I’m gonna have to take it off of her and it will be an honor to do. It will be an honor, Rhea.”

WWE RAW’s Day 1 episode at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California was a packed card. Not only did The Rock return for a shocking segment, but Rhea Ripley also battled to defend the WWE Women’s World Title against Ivy Nile. The Rock paid attention to Ripley that night, and he had a special message to share.

The Rock’s WWE RAW Day 1 Surprise

The Rock showed up for a segment with Jinder Mahal, where he shut down the Modern Day Maharaja’s anti-American promo. That resulted in “Day One Douchebag” chants, and after The Rock beat Mahal down, he dropped a blatant tease about a future match with Roman Reigns. 

Following the show, photos circulated on social media showing The Rock spending time with Ripley, prompting a public comment from The Rock on Instagram. His caption provided a very important message that The People’s Champion had for The Nightmare.

“She wears black. I love black. She’s a bad ass. And I got famous for wearing a fanny pack. We had fun f*cking around backstage —-Love, appreciate and respect you champ @rhearipley_wwe – thanks for trusting me with your title, keep kickin’ ass and raising the bar ——Big shout to @cathykelley for being a total pro and having fun — —-#peopleschamp.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1yNPVRrmXV

Rhea Ripley’s Rise in WWE

Rhea Ripley began her WWE career in 2017, participating in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament. She was off to the races after that. 

Rhea Ripley joined NXT and evolved into a top star for the brand. Ripley’s accomplishments include winning the NXT Women’s Championship and playing a significant role in various storylines. Over time, she transitioned to the main roster.

To this day, Rhea Ripley is a member of Judgment Day, and many fans consider her the leader of that faction. The Rock definitely can’t wait to see what she does next.

Wrestling factions can go through a lot of changes in their lifetimes. Groups and and remove members, often violently. 

WWE Hall of Famer Edge (Adam Copeland) and Damian Priest launched The Judgment Day as a duo, but it did not stay like that for long. Today’s incarnation is one of the most dominant forces in WWE, but the group looks quite different from what Copeland originally had in mind. 

Judgment Day grew to be one of the biggest draws in WWE. With Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, the group is featured heavily on WWE television. Although they never took a turn into the supernatural realm as was originally rumored for the stable, they certainly took on a new life of their own.

While speaking to Sam Roberts on the Not Sam Wrestling podcast, Copeland spoke about the original concept for the Judgment Day.

Original Plan For WWE’s Judgment Day Stable

The Rated R Superstar says the Judgment Day came about when he was approached about starting up a ‘New Brood,’ the Attitude Era’s gothic trio of  Edge, Christian and Gangrel. The Brood helped put Edge and Christian on the map when they first arrived on the scene in WWE, so maybe Copeland could do something similar for one of WWE’s rising stars. 

“Well, you know, with the initial inception of the Judgement Day, I really I wanted it to be these underutilized talents that I thought could be far more than what they were being utilized for. Rhea Ripley is a star and Damian Priest is a star and Finn Balor’s a star.

So initially, it was brought to me like, ‘Hey, we want to kind of start a New Brood,’ or something that feels somewhat like that. I’m like, ‘Who would it be?’ I was like, ‘Ripley and Priest.’ ‘Well, we want it go be four.’ So, it’s like.. Balor! Okay, well, then it was like, ‘We want somebody really huge.’ I was like, okay.. all right.. and then I got a text two weeks later. ‘How about Balor?’ I’m like, ‘Yep! amazing idea.’ [Laughing]”

Edge was kicked out of Judgment Day when Finn Balor made his way to the stable. After that, the Rated R Superstar and his former stable went their separate ways. 

As Judgment Day remains a stable on WWE programming, they still have Edge to thank. They might not publicly thank the man who helped start the faction, because he is with AEW now, but they know where the genesis of that sable came from.

The Judgment Day stands as one of WWE’s best factions, as they took over in 2023. Judgment Day also added JD McDonagh to their ranks in recent memory. However, a recent glitch occurred when a member of the faction faced a big logistical problem while trying to attend the December 29th WWE house show.

Judgment Day Member’s Issue in Canada

During the December 29th WWE house show at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Judgment Day’s dynamic was on display. Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest actively participated in the event, while Dominik Mysterio provided corner support for Ripley.

However, JD McDonagh was notably absent from the scene. Finn Balor took to Twitter, sharing an image of The Judgment Day backstage in Canada. In the accompanying caption, he revealed McDonagh’s absence, attributing it to paperwork troubles that prevented him from joining the Canadian event. 

”The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto”

The incident shed light on the logistical challenges faced by WWE Superstars, showcasing the intricate details behind their appearances. We can only hope that they straighten this out, so JD McDonagh doesn’t have to miss any more events outside the United States.

The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto pic.twitter.com/Uix23J5TAh

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) December 30, 2023

Judgment Day is known for their family vibe, and this new video drop from WWE shows that in full HD. The WWE stable recently had a Secret Santa gift exchange between each other, and it created a great Christmastime video.

During the festive season of gift-giving, the Judgment Day crew decided to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and WWE’s cameras captured the heartwarming moments. Each of them actually put thought into their gifts, so this wasn’t a kayfabe segment meant for an angle. 

Judgment Day’s Secret Santa Gifts Revealed

Finn Balor drew Rhea Ripley’s name, and he got her a Stranger Things bag, a book about women with tattoos and a beanie with “Mami” on it. Rhea Ripley got Damian Priest as her Secret Santa and gave him some Australian candy and a boomerang that she must have brought back from her recent trip Down Under.

Dominik Mysterio shared the holiday spirit by giving Finn Balor a Louis Vuitton hat. The moment that Louis Vuitton logo was seen, it captured attention, making all of us think about Dirty Dominik’s new WWE contract. 

JD McDonagh drew Dominik Mysterio’s name, and he gave him some custom gold pens, with his name inscribed on them. He received some heckling over the gift, after trying to blame Finn Balor for the gift idea. Balor then revealed that he told JD to get Dominik a Rolex watch, but he’s too cheap. 

To complete the gift exchange, Damian Priest gave JD McDonagh a very thoughtful present. He explained that every member of the Judgment Day was given a steel bracelet, a symbolic gesture meaning that they are officially in the stable. Now, JD has one, too.  

Some fans may forget that Judgment Day was originally just Edge and Damian Priest, meaning Priest is the only OG member of the stable. That gift of a steel bracelet obviously meant a lot to JD McDonagh. 

What’s Next For Judgment Day In WWE

Judgment Day is getting a little break from the road, along with the rest of the WWE roster. There is little rest for them, though, because Dominik Mysterio is booked to wrestle CM Punk in Madison Square Garden on December 26th. Odds are, he will have his Judgment Day family with him at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

? ? ?

It's Secret Santa time for The Judgment Day! Who gave the best present? ? pic.twitter.com/TrXVywuODP

— WWE (@WWE) December 24, 2023

Dominik Mysterio has been an absolute workhorse for WWE in 2023. As we enjoy Dominik Mysterio’s rise in WWE, it’s always important to remember when he came from.

Dominik Mysterio’s Arrest Situation

Many fans consider Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley invading Rey Mysterio’s home on Christmas as one of the benchmarks for his rise as a heel in WWE.

That was quite a fiasco, resulting in a viral video, and the “My mom hit Mami” meme. The Judgment Day members were just getting started, and that viral video created quite a storm. It also caused the catalyst for the Prison Dominik character.

That all went down one year ago today, and WWE wanted to make sure that fans remember that monumental event in Dominik Mysterio’s WWE career. The company’s social media account posted the video, along with a caption, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of that memorable moment.

"My mom hit Mami"

1?? year ago today… pic.twitter.com/otqLIKQWQS

— WWE (@WWE) December 24, 2023

Dominik Myserio and Rhea Ripley went on to crash Rey Mysterio’s Valentine’s Day dinner. Their Christmas edition that resulted in Dirty Dominik’s arrest still stands on its own.

What’s Next For Dominik Mysterio In WWE

Dominik Mysterio recently inked a new WWE contract. He will be with the company for years to come. Although it wasn’t 100% confirmed, the belief is that Dirty Dominik’s new WWE deal is a five-year contract.

So far in 2023, Dominik Mysterio has wrestled 102 matches, doubling his number from 2022. He’s not finished yet, because Dominik still has two matches against CM Punk coming up at WWE live events. 

Becky Lynch has never been one to hold her opinion back, and that is one of the qualities that helped establish her as The Man. Lynch has big goals in WWE, and she just staked her claim with a big WrestleMania match for herself against Rhea Ripley.

While speaking to Strutting From Gorilla, Becky Lynch was asked about her next targets in WWE. She made it very clear that Nia Jax is a match that she wants to happen. Then she is off to take down Rhea Ripley and strip her of that WWE Women’s World Title.

The way Becky Lynch sees things, she doesn’t appreciate how Rhea Ripley has been representing that women’s title, or lack thereof. With WrestleMania season coming up, Becky Lynch sees a big match in her future. 

“I think there’s so many talented up and comers. One match we haven’t gotten to is I’ve got to shut up Nia Jax first. It’s strange to think that Nia Jax haven’t gone one on one in a WWE ring yet, but it’s true.”

“Then there’s the next stop, and that’s taking that title off Rhea Ripley. Because that title, when I hold that title is the main event of every show. Now, her title has been seen in many main events, but not because she’s been defending it, but because she’s been the accompaniment to the main event, and I can’t have that. I’m sick of that. I can’t have that and I am going to take that title off of her, preferably at WrestleMania.”

What’s Next For Becky Lynch In WWE

Becky Lynch will get a chance to cross that Nia Jax match off her list soon enough. WWE officially booked Becky Lynch vs Nia Jax in a first-time ever match during that January 1st episode of the Day One RAW. 

Rhea Ripley is still holding the WWE Women’s World Title, no matter what Becky Lynch thinks of things. It would be interesting to see The Man come around to challenge The Nightmare, and WrestleMania 40 may be a great landing pad for that match to go down.

Becky Lynch’s’ WWE contract is running up in 2024. The next few months are going to be crucial for her, and it could also include a huge WrestleMania moment. 

Rhea Ripley’s character evolution is a journey of self-discovery and authenticity.

Female wrestlers were traditionally depicted as conventionally attractive, blonde, and resembling models. Their ring time was limited to barely one minute for wrestling. Ripley initially started with a similar image but later moved in a completely different direction, embracing a goth aesthetic with tattoos, embodying the “Mami” character. In an interview with the Australian newspaper The West Australian, Ripley discussed why she opted for this unique direction instead of following a previously successful path. Ripley recently had an interview with the Australian newspaper The West Australian.

“I think it’s all about being yourself. For me, when I first came in for the first Mae Young Classic, I had the long blonde hair, I smiled way too much, way too bubbly. It wasn’t me. The person that you see today was the person I was back then, but I was trying so hard to be someone else because of obviously, the people that I watched growing up. I thought that’s what they wanted, so that’s what I gave them.”

Ripley said that she didn’t feel comfortable being someone who she isn’t, and this clearly showed with the fact that she wasn’t getting shows and opportunities.

“I didn’t feel comfortable, and after a while, I wasn’t getting put on shows. I wasn’t getting opportunities. I was getting beat down and picked on. They didn’t think that I worked hard enough, but I was just trying to give them what I thought they wanted. But at the end of the day, the best thing you could do is just be confident with the person that you are. So once I decided not to care what people thought about me, I was like I am gonna be myself.”

Rhea Ripley’s evolution to ‘Mami’

This is when Rhea decided to let her personality shine through, and the character that we see today is actually her just growing up and finding herself as a person.

“[I] cut my hair short, and once I did that and I started wearing the long pants with the chains and the studs, changed my persona and came out and was just mean mugging everyone, beating everyone up. ‘This is my brutality,’ it’s not even a joke, it’s what I did. That’s when my career really started rockin’ and rollin’. And the Rhea Ripley evolution that you’ve seen into the Rhea Ripley that you see today it’s just me growing as a person outside of the WWE and I’m just letting it shine through within the WWE sort of thing. So it’s me, and I think that’s what the fans see, and that’s what gravitates them towards Rhea Ripley.”

WWE has seen many women travel through the company that changed history. Chyna turned heads in the late-90s for WWE, proving that women can be more than Divas. In today’s company, Rhea Ripley is taking the idea of what it means to be a female Superstar to another level. 

Rhea Ripley’s Place In WWE Today

Rhea Ripley currently stands among the prominent female WWE Superstars, steadily gaining momentum each week. As the lone woman in Judgement Day, she has often been compared to another amazing female talent who once backed a stable, Chyna. The Eradicator doesn’t mind those comparisons at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT9DIey1Ts

While speaking to The West Australian, Rhea Ripley spoke about the comparisons she receives to Chyna. She considers those comparisons to the WWE Hall of Famer “amazing” and she is “very proud of” the fact that she is in that conversation. 

“I don’t think getting compared to Chyna is a bad thing at all. I think it’s amazing. I’m actually very proud of that fact. The only problem that I’m having at the moment is that, I’ve done all these amazing things with men that have been so good to me, and let me do these things. While I was doing that, the women’s division was suffering a little bit, and not getting built the right way. It was at a weird time where things weren’t certain and things were changing constantly, so the women’s division suffered a little bit, and now we’re trying to build it back up.”

“Obviously we have like our Becky Lynches, we have Nia Jax, we have our Charlotte Flairs, our Asukas, all of that, but it’s time to make some new stars as well, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make new names and get the women’s division rocking and rolling.”

“So there’s lots of great challenges, but for me, I love doing everything. I love beating the men up. I love beating the women up. It makes me different, it makes me stand out, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Rhea Ripley will keep doing her thing, while remaining true to herself. If that means she is compared to a trailblazing legend like Chyna, then so bet it. 

Chyna’s Tragic Groundbreaking Story In WWE

Chyna rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a groundbreaking figure in professional wrestling. Debuting in WWE in 1997, Chyna quickly shattered gender norms by competing against male wrestlers. Billed as the “Ninth Wonder of the World.” Chyna achieved significant success, becoming the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble and winning the Intercontinental Championship. 

Sadly, despite her accomplishments, personal struggles and conflicts led to her departure from WWE in 2001. Chyna faced challenges post-wrestling, including ventures into reality television and adult entertainment. Her life took a tragic turn, and she battled substance abuse and mental health issues, contributing to her untimely death in 2016. 

Chyna’s legacy remains complex, marked by both her groundbreaking contributions to wrestling and the challenges she faced in her personal life. After her death, in a moment that was a long time coming for many pro wrestling fans, Chyna was finally inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of DX in 2019.

WWE fans are still waiting on a solo induction for Chyna, and Rhea Ripley would probably love to see that happen, too. 

R-Truth recently decided to have some fun with The Judgment Day members, Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. But, Truth has his own way of spending time with the ‘family.’

As the Holidays have come around, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio decided to make a trip to Perth, Australia, the host of next year’s Elimination Chamber. ‘Dirty Dom’ and ‘Mami’ are having quite a vacation in the latter’s homeland. But as it seems, R Truth wanted to be a part of the trip.

WWE recently released a video clip of Ripley and Dominik enjoying their time in Perth. R Truth noted the video clip and took to his TikTok channel. He dropped a hilariously edited video clip in which he added himself to the video to indicate that he was hanging out with the couple.

YALL @RonKillings BE TRYNA KILL ME LMAOOOOO ? pic.twitter.com/3fAXbqL9JH

— ? ???? ?? ????? ? | TROOP ? (@FandomPhases) December 14, 2023

R-Truth wants to be in The Judgment Day

The Judgment Day is currently one of the most dominant factions in WWE. It includes Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and Damian Priest. Several superstars have fallen prey to the ruthless attack of the group. The sinister group had been trying to recruit a member over the last few months. In the past, they went after Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre to be a part of the faction. Though ‘The Scottish Warrior’ joined forces, he never became an official member of the group.

JD McDonagh ended up becoming the newest member and ever since, the faction has become formidable. However, it seems R-Truth want to be a part of the group as well.

Over the last few weeks, R-Truth has been invading their clubhouse and claimed to be a member of the faction. Though he received warnings, Truth is having none of it. 

On the latest edition of Monday Night Raw, R-Truth interrupted The Judgment Day and suggested JD McDonagh to be kicked out. He further opined that Damian Priest shouldn’t try to be the boss around as Rhea Ripley would be angry. This led to R-Truth getting attacked but The Creed Brothers saved him. 

Should @RonKillings join The Judgment Day? What does @RheaRipley_WWE have to say?!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/lAYxugf1ED

— WWE (@WWE) December 12, 2023

Dominik Mysterio is currently considered one of the top heels in WWE, and some may view him as a potential threat to society. However, he recently encountered an incident at an Australian airport, but Rhea Ripley was able to help out with her mere presence. 

Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio’s dynamic remains a notable point of interest for fans. Some even find themselves speculating about a real-life romantic connection between the two, but no amount of shipping them will change the fact that Rhea Ripley is in a relationship with Buddy Matthews, and Dominik Mysterio is happily engaged to his high school sweetheart.

Dirty Dom and Rhea Ripley went to Australia to promote the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event scheduled for Perth next year. They have been engaging in media activities since yesterday, but Mysterio faced a minor incident.

Dominik Mysterio Dodges Travel Nightmare

During a recent appearance on Australia’s Hit WA’s Allan & Carly radio show, host Allan Aldworth asked Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley if they had any trouble flying into the country. This is when Rhea Ripley admitted that, “We got singled out, well Dom did.”

Dominik Mysterio then admitted that, “The mullet and the tattoos, they looked at me like ‘uhh we’re gonna search your bags.’”

Allan Aldworth, the host of the show, then asked, “And then they ask you what you do for a living, and you tell them, and they don’t believe you I assume?”

“100%,” Dominik Mysterio responded. Then the host asked, ”Until you slam a chair on their head?” That is when Dirty Dom had to let everyone know that Rhea Ripley actually saved him from having a bad time in the airport.

“No, until they see her (Rhea Ripley).”

What’s next for Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley

WWE Superstars are used to traveling all over the world, so getting through customs is no new thing for them. That being said, every time you travel, it can present certain obstacles. Obviously, Dominik Mysterio is ready for anything as long as he has Mami with him.

We will have to see how long WWE keeps Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley together. Obviously, they are a great team, in and out of the ring. It certainly helped Dominik Mysterio out in a big way during that recent trip to Australia. 

Fans will see CM Punk compete in the ring later this month, in the Best in the World’s first match in WWE since his return at Survivor Series. 

The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of WWE’s most recent main roster PLE. The event marked Punk’s first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble and his first appearance in wrestling since his AEW release in September of this year. 

CM Punk Back in Action

On this week’s Raw, CM Punk declared himself for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he’ll be back in the ring far sooner than that. 

Punk has been announced for matches on two upcoming shows – CM Punk will face ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the December 26 event from Madison Square Garden and the December 30 event in Inglewood, California.

JUST ANNOUNCED: CM Punk will be live at The Garden on Dec 26 for his first match in WWE in over 9 years as he goes one on one with ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the @WWE LIVE Holiday Tour.

Limited tickets remain: https://t.co/SlyuvVKOaa pic.twitter.com/Fx3kvhYQQr

— MSG (@TheGarden) December 12, 2023

JUST ADDED! @CMPunk will face ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio at the @WWE Live Holiday Tour on Saturday, December 30!

Grab ?? while you still can: https://t.co/rmKLhir7p7 pic.twitter.com/osU7jqVNpJ

— The Kia Forum (@thekiaforum) December 12, 2023

These won’t just be Punk’s first WWE matches in close to a decade, but will also be Punk’s first matches in months. The Best in the World’s most recent match saw him retain the ‘Real’ World Championship against Samoa Joe at AEW All In. 

WWE Live – December 30

Punk’s first WWE match in close to a decade will be just one part of a stacked show. Other matches confirmed for the night include: 

• Seth Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

• IYO SKY (c) Bianca Belair Vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Women’s Championship. 

Cody Rhodes was set to face ‘Dirty Dom’ in a Last Man Standing match at the event. It remains to be seen who Rhodes will face at the show with Dominik now facing CM Punk. 

More information about the show can be found here. 

The question as to which match will headline WrestleMania 39: Night One has been on the mind of fans for some time.

This year will mark WWE’s fourth two-night WrestleMania: a concept that the company adopted in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The two-night format has allowed more Superstars to have a WrestleMania main event to their name, including AJ Styles, Bianca Belair, and Kevin Owens.

WrestleMania 39: Night One

With WrestleMania 39 going Hollywood (given its LA setting) WWE has been releasing parody trailers for popular films and TV shows featuring the Superstars.

This week, WWE featured Rhea Ripley in a Stranger Things parody, with the Judgment Day member playing Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven.

In the video, an unseen (but very recognizable) voice all but announced that Ripley will be headlining Night One, stating:

“Feeling that pressure, huh? Of being the main event of WrestleMania? Is it triggering you right now, Rhea? You want some? Then, go get some!”

At WWE WrestleMania 39, Ripley (the winner of the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match) will face SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

This will make Flair the first and only woman in WWE history to headline two WrestleManias (after previously closing out WrestleMania 35 in 2019.)

It had previously been reported that this match was the favorite to headline Night One, with Night Two being headlined by Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes.

While not confirmed by WWE yet, Logan Paul told listeners of his popular ImPaulsive podcast that his match with Seth Rollins will be on Night One.

That show will take place on April 1, which will mark Paul’s 28th birthday.

In the year 2003, WrestleMania XIX hosted only one women’s match on the card — a triple threat for the WWE Women’s Championship. Twenty years later, WrestleMania 39 will feature three, and possibly even more.

Over the course of two decades, women have made a multitude of strides in their television time, overall presentation, and fan perception, and now, they remain some of the most popular and prosperous figures in the company.

“It’s been wonderful to see how far the women’s division has come over the years from being put on the show in bikini matches to main-eventing WrestleMania. It’s just come so far,” former RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley told Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media Podcast.

“The women before us, they persevered and they pushed through and they tried so hard to get the recognition that they deserve as athletes, as performers. It’s finally paying off,” she continued. “We’re selling most of the merch. A lot of people, they stick around for the women’s matches because they want to see us absolutely kill it. A lot of the times I feel like we go harder than the men as well.”

Growth & Goals

Reflecting back on some of evident progressions, Ripley pinpointed the WrestleMania 37 contest between Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair — the second WrestleMania main event for women in WWE history. The match itself has been widely praised as one of the best bouts of the modern era, but for Rhea Ripley, the match holds a deeper significance.

“To watch Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks in the main event a couple of years ago — I remember watching it and I was just like first of all, that’s my friend out there. I was in NXT with Bianca and I’ve watched how much crap she’s gone through and how she’s just pushed through everything. Then riding with her, hearing her backstory and like everything that she’s gone through in life and overcome and to see her go out there and be the main event at WrestleMania with Sasha Banks, who I know has gone through everything as well, it’s just really cool to see. Women are finally getting the spotlight and the opportunities we deserve,” Ripley said.

Over the last year, Rhea Ripley herself has made enormous advancements in her career. Adopting the nickname of “The Eradicator,” Ripley aligned herself with one of WWE’s most dominant factions — The Judgement Day. Through her work with them, Ripley’s confidence has blossomed, as she remains unafraid to square up with just about anyone, including her male counterparts.

“I can only imagine how far we’re going to drive this women’s division in the future because to even just have me going out there and having a match with [Akira] Tozawa, picking up [Luke] Gallows, going out there, beating up the guys, beating up Rey Mysterio, beating up Edge. These are people that I watched as a kid and now me as a female, I get to go out there and punch them in the face. It’s so cool to see how far we’ve all come. I’m so excited to see what the future holds because it’s just going to go up and beyond from here.”

Despite the many advancements, though, the fight for true equality is far from over. As Ripley asserts, she and the entire women’s locker room want viewers to be “fully invested” in their characters, storylines, merchandise, and everything the division is doing. In the meantime, they will keep chipping away at the glass ceiling.

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit with an h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

The Superstars of WWE could be heading down under in due time for a stadium event in Australia.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that the state government of Western Australia is “negotiating” with WWE to run a major stadium show.

Dave Meltzer writes that if successful, the likely city for the event would be Perth, which recently hosted a UFC show.

UFC shows outside the U.S. are, in essence, local governments bringing in UFC for tourism or other reasons, and WWE would bring a ton of attraction to Perth.

WWE in Australia

While Sydney may be approximately 10,000 miles from WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, the promotion has a solid history with Australia.

In 2002, over 56,000 fans filled Colonial Stadium for WWE’s Global Warning event, which saw The Rock defeat Triple H and Brock Lesnar to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event.

It would be over 14 years later that WWE would have taped content in Australia, filming matches for NXT in December 2016 that would air the next month.

70,000 fans packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2018 for Super ShowDown, and WWE has done several untelevised tours of Australia, the most recent being in 2019.

Homecoming

If this show goes ahead, it will be a homecoming for many of the Superstars in NXT and on the main roster.

On the main roster, recently returned Superstars Emma and Bronson Reed call Australia home, as does 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley.

NXT is also home to some exceptional Australian talent, including Duke Hudson, Xyon Quinn, Indi Hartwell, and Grayson Waller.

Mick Foley may be something of a cuddly teddy bear these days, but the three-time former WWE Champion is ready to raise some hell as part of The Judgment Day.

This April will mark one year since the group debuted, and initially consisted of Edge and Damian Priest.

At WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022, Rhea Ripley was added to the group, and Finn Balor’s entry not long after would see Edge be ousted as leader.

It was at September’s Clash at the Castle Premium Live Event that Dominik Mysterio joined the group, after betraying Edge and his father Rey Mysterio.

Foley’s Judgment

Mick Foley’s days in the ring are long behind him, but the WWE Hall of Famer has expressed a (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) interest in joining the faction.

On YouTube, Foley donned a distinct purple and black flannel to seek “gainful employment” as a member and referenced his decades of experience in the industry.

Foley also acknowledged his moniker as ‘King of the Death Match’ and mentioned reaching the New York Times bestseller list twice.

While praising the group’s various skills (including the abs of Finn Balor,) Foley requested his son Dewey to draw more tear ‘tattoos’ on his face.

Dewey instead wrote the word ‘Help Me’ on his father’s forehead (a not to Al Snow) and a more ‘phallic’ piece of ink on his other cheek.

Judgment Day at WrestleMania

The Judgment Day is yet to publicly respond to Foley’s resume, but with or without the Hardcore legend, they’ll be kept pretty busy at WrestleMania.

After becoming the first woman to win a Royal Rumble match from #1, Rhea Ripley will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.

On next week’s Raw, Edge and Finn Balor will have a confrontation, and it has been rumored that a Hell in a Cell match between the two will take place at WrestleMania.

There have been rumors that Dominik Mysterio will face his father Rey next month in the father and son’s home state of California.