The former WWE RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is currently one of the top stars in the women’s division. It has come to light that ‘The Eradicator’ has been considered to be the retirement opponent of a WWE legend.
WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze (a.k.a Madusa) is a trailblazer and one of the greatest female stars to ever grace the squared circle. Her last match was in 2018 when she competed in the 20-woman battle royal at WWE Evolution. She recently expressed her desire to have The Judgement Day member as her last opponent inside the ring.
Speaking to PWMania, Blayze talked about calling out Rhea Ripley. She went on to reveal that they had a backstage conversation during the 30th Anniversary of Monday Night RAW.
Alundra Blayze wants Rhea Ripley as her retirement opponent
“You’re, so funny. I already called her out. And I was walking past the makeup room whenever I was there for Raw XXX and I walked by I said, ‘yo girl looking good.’ Then I came back and stuck my head and I said, ‘you’d probably be a pretty good retirement match.’ She’s like, ‘Oh my God. That’s such an honor.’ She’s so funny. She’s a wonderful girl, though. Woman. Just amazing. I just say girl or kid because probably like 30 years younger than I am. You know?”
Recently, at RAW XXX, Blayze returned to WWE in a backstage segment alongside other legends. She played poker in a tournament put together by fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons.
Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Liv Morgan. ‘The Eradicator’ has now earned a shot at the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship currently held by Charlotte Flair. They are set to lock horns for the title at WrestleMania 39 this April.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley have proven to be quite the duo on WWE programming, and have caught the attention of those outside of the promotion.
In the run-up to WWE Clash at the Castle, Ripley repeatedly targeted Dominik, who at the time was aligned with his father Rey Mysterio and Edge.
After turning on his father and the Hall of Famer, Dominik and Ripley have been inseparable and have appeared together both at WWE events and away from the ring.
Reactions
During this week’s SmackDown, Dominik made a rare appearance on the blue brand to confront Charlotte Flair, who’ll defend the Women’s Title against Ripley at WrestleMania 39.
Mysterio went on about how he and Flair were both generational superstars, that they often get compared to their fathers but surpass them anyway
When Dominik tried to smooth talk the record-breaking champion, Flair was quick to shut him down, saying that she “has a real Latino man at home that calls me mami.”
Monday Night RAWkicked off with Edge and Beth Phoenix in the ring. Edge said that Judgment Day is his fault. He talked about how he only said “I quit” at Extreme Rules because Rhea Ripley assaulting Phoenix. Judgment Day, minus Ripley, made their way to the ring.
Bálor told Edge it was time to make him say “I Quit” again. Dominik Mysterio told them that he’ll treat them like he does his dad if they don’t back off Judgment Day. They all exchange barbs and Phoenix said she came to beat Ripley’s ass, but since she wasn’t there how about Bálor and Ripley face them at Elimination Chamber.
Dominik Mysterio Screams for Mami
Bálor said they will only if she and Edge make it to Elimination Chamber. They begin circling the ring when Angelo Dawkins comes to assist Edge and Phoenix. Mysterio attempted to leave only to be met by Montez Ford. Ford tosses him into the ring where Phoenix puts him in the Glam Slam, while he screamed for “MAMI!”
After the match, Phoenix sent a message to Ripley via Twitter. She posted a picture of a close up of Mysterio screaming “MAMI!” with the caption that reads, “missed you this week, Rhea!” She also made the image her Twitter avi.
While fans were blown away by the closing moments of last month’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, Kurt Angle has a different pick for his segment of the night.
The finale of the January 28 event saw Sami Zayn’s time with the Bloodline end after he refused to attack Kevin Owens and instead struck Roman Reigns.
The segment has been praised by fans and those in the industry as an excellent culmination of Zayn’s near-year-long angle with the Bloodline.
Women’s Rumble
Before Reigns and Owens headlined the event, fans saw Rhea Ripley become the sixth woman to win a Rumble match.
The Judgment Day’s Eradicator now joins Asuka, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, and Ronda Rousey, and is the first woman to win a Rumble from #1.
Speaking on his show, Kurt Angle praised the finish which saw Ripley face off against a returning Asuka and Liv Morgan (who entered at #2.)
“I thought it was a great Royal Rumble and I’m not gonna lie to you the women’s finish of the women’s Royal Rumble was the best finish I’ve seen in years. Rhea Ripley — the way that that match ended was incredible. I was so impressed by it. I have to give the women five stars for that match.”
Kurt Angle.
Ripley at WrestleMania
On last week’s Raw, Ripley declared that she will be challenging SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39.
This match will mark the second WrestleMania match between the two, after Flair dethroned Ripley to become NXT Women’s Champion at the crowd-less WrestleMania 36.
Should Ripley win this year, she’ll be the first woman to hold the Raw, SmackDown, NXT and NXT UK Women’s Championships.
Ric Flair believes the upcoming SmackDown Women’s Title match between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley should headline one of the two nights of WrestleMania 39.
Ripley punched her ticket to WrestleMania by winning this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. Now, she has opted to challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Live Women’s Title at “The Show Of Shows” in Los Angeles.
Speaking on his podcast, “To Be The Man,” Ric Flair explained why he believes his daughter’s match should one a main event for one of the two night’s cards.
“It’s gotta be one of the main events. It’s gonna be spectacular. Rhea has matured so much. That match they had in front of no people a couple years ago was fantastic. I can only imagine, I mean ‘The Queen’ is in a place where… she just plain and simply is the best worker in the business, in the company.
“I’m sure that she and Rhea will tear the joint down. If I were the guys, I wouldn’t want to follow them, and I would be hope that they’d be on last. As much as I enjoy that group she [Rhea]’s with, which worked out really nice, I’m really happy that she’s going out on her own now again. I like that.
“Win, lose, or draw, I don’t know whether she’ll stay with that group or not, but she is such a great singles attraction. She and ‘The Queen’ will just tear it down. I’m so excited for both of them.”
Flair returned to WWE back in December on an episode of SmackDown after a lengthy several month layoff. She challenged Ronda Rousey for the title in an impromptu match, winning the bout and re-capturing the title in the process.
With the win, Flair became a 14-time World Champion in the process.
Rhea Ripley has a big decision ahead of her, but before she can make it, she has another piece of business to tend to first.
Saturday night, Rhea Ripley punched her ticket to WrestleMania 39. “The Nightmare” entered the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble from the number one spot, but that didn’t stop her from outlasting everyone else. The final two saw Ripley clash with former tag team partner Liv Morgan — who entered at number two — before Ripley eliminated Morgan, effectively winning the 30-woman Rumble match. Now, Ripley must declare which championship she will vie for at WWE’s grandest stage, WrestleMania 39.
Before she can weigh her options, however, she appears be caught in the sights of WWE Hall of Famer, Beth Phoenix.
Awakening The Glamazon
At Extreme Rules in October, Phoenix zoomed down to try and save her husband, Edge, from the wrath of the Judgement Day during his “I Quit” match with Finn Balor. Unfortunately for Phoenix though, Rhea Ripley took her down with a pair of brass knuckles and a chair shot to the head. At the Royal Rumble, Phoenix returned with revenge on her mind.
After Edge’s elimination in the men’s Royal Rumble at the hands of the Judgement Day, “The Rated R Superstar” brawled with Finn Balor and Damian Priest up the entrance ramp. Ripley, however, stunned Edge with an attack from behind, kicking him down.
Soon though, Ripley received a surprise of her own. “The Glamazon” Beth Phoenix appeared behind Rhea Ripley, grounding her with a spear.
Following the action, Ripley and Phoenix battled in a war of words on Twitter. Phoenix congratulated Ripley on her women’s Royal Rumble win, promising to drag her to Hell now. Ripley replied seemingly unphased, proclaiming that saying that Phoenix stepped into her playground now. “The Glamazon” answered back with a warning to “The Nightmare.”
Playgrounds are for children. And KID….Mother is back to punish you. https://t.co/xC5F8Ry7SL
Statistically, entering a Royal Rumble match from the #1 position is the worst possible number for a wrestler hoping to headline WrestleMania.
As seen at the 2023 Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley won the Women’s Rumble match from the #1 position and has made history in the process.
With Ripley’s win, the #1 spot has now produced four winners, tying the coveted #27 spot.
Being third from the last has often been touted as the best position to be in, with Big John Studd (1989,) Yokozuna (1993,) Bret Hart (1994,) and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin (1997) all winning from #27.
While #27 has long been considered the best spot, it has now fallen to second place, as Cody Rhodes’ victory in the #30 spot is the fifth overall.
Winning from #1
Rhea Ripley is just the latest Superstar (and first female) to win a Rumble match from the #1 position, and has joined some notable names.
In 1995, Shawn Michaels became the first Superstar to go the distance, eliminating ‘The British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith, who had entered at #2.
Nearly a decade later, Chris Benoit did the same, entering at #1 in 2004 and last eliminating the Big Show to earn a championship match at WrestleMania.
Aware that then-SmackDown GM Paul Heyman was planning to screw him, Benoit jumped from SmackDown to Raw for his WrestleMania title opportunity.
It was Benoit’s action that led to the rule that the Royal Rumble winner can choose which title they challenge for when there are two WWE World Championships.
Fans would wait another 17 years before Edge won the Men’s Rumble at #1, at the (thankfully) only Rumble to happen without a live crowd.
Ripley now has a one-way ticket to a main event match at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood. She’ll get to choose whether she challenges Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship or SmackDown women’s champion, Charlotte Flair. She’s already held the Raw Women’s title, a factor that could play into her decision.
WWE held a press conference after the Royal Rumble. Several Superstars including Cody Rhodes, Bray Wyatt fielded questions from members of the wrestling media. Ripley was all smiles when she spoke, telling the room that she’s planning to celebrate in a big way.
“The Judgment Day, we get pretty wild when we party,” she said. “There’s a lot of things that go down, I might get in trouble if I say anything. There’s definitely gonna be a good old Judgment Day party. Dom Dom’s gonna get rowdy, Priest is definitely gonna get rowdy and Finn Balor is gonna get rowdy, and I’m gonna celebrate, I don’t care.”
Update on Rhea Ripley After Winning the Royal Rumble
On Sunday, Ripley posted a photo on Twitter showing off the scrapes and cuts she sustained on the way to her big win. This is nothing compared to what happened to Sonya Deville, but you can see she didn’t make it out unscathed.
The winner of this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match has been revealed and it’s Rhea Ripley. Now, her journey to WrestleMania 39 begins.
It started off with Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan before Dana Brooke and Emma followed. Shayna Baszler was #5 while Bayley was out at #6. B-Fab was #7 but was quickly eliminated by Ripley. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez entered next then Dakota Kai. IYO SKY was next out.
Brooke was eliminated then Emma. Perez was taken out by Kai, Bayley, and SKY. Natalya entered the match next followed by Candice LeRae. NXT’s Zoey Stark and Xia Li were the next entrants. Lee was eliminated by Damage CTRL. Becky Lynch was #15. Tegan Nox was out at #16 and Asuka at #17. Piper Niven was next out (Doudrop name dropped). #19 was Tamina. Chelsea Green was #20 but was eliminated right away by Ripley. Kai and SKY were eliminated by Lynch. Bayley eliminated Lynch. Morgan eliminated Bayley. Zelina Vega was #21 and eliminated Li. Raquel Rodriguez was #22.
Mia Yim was out next followed by Lacey Evans. Michelle McCool entered after sitting in the front row. Indi Hartwell was #26. Sonya Deville was #27 and eliminated Stark. Evans choked out Vega on the top rope and dropped her for the elimination. Shotzi was #28 then Nikki Cross. The final entrant is Nia Jax. Everyone jumped on her and she was eliminated.
McCool and Evans were eliminated followed by Shotzi and Yim. Niven ate a big boot and was eliminated by Raquel. Ripley kicked Raquel out of the ring. Asuka sent Morgan to the floor.
Ripley outlasted the likes of Cross, Morgan, and Asuka in the Final Four at the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. Ripley and Morgan were the final two.
With her beating out 29 other stars, she has earned the right to be in one of the main events of Mania and will have her choice to go after one of the top titles in the company. The decision for her comes down to the Raw Women’s Title, which is held by Bianca Belair. The other option is challenging SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
Royal Rumble List of Entrants
Here’s a list of the entry of superstars who competed in this fan-favorite match:
WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T believes Rhea Ripley is the future of the women’s division.
Booker T took to his podcast, “The Hall Of Fame,” and offered up some predictions for this weekend’s Royal Rumble. He picked Rhea Ripley as the winner for the Women’s Royal Rumble, going as far as suggesting Ripley is the future of the division.
“Of course in the men’s, it’s gonna be Cody Rhodes,” Booker said. “In the women’s, it’s going to be the Rhip (Rhea Ripley). It’s time for the Rhip to get that push. It’s time for the Rhip to come out of that shadow of the women.
“Being able to just sit back in the wings, watch and wait, you know, with Judgment Day as of late, has given her a little bit of time to get that hunger back to go out there and really take control of that women’s division. I really think she can. I really think Rhea Ripley is the future of the women’s division.”
Ripley has certainly made a name for herself since joining the WWE’s main roster in 2021. After making a name for herself in NXT UK and NXT, winning the women’s title for both brands.
Upon making it up to the main roster, Ripley went on to defeat Asuka for the RAW Women’s Title at WrestleMania 37. She also won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles alongside Nikki A.S.H.
Currently, Ripley is a member of The Judgement Day alongside Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio.
The WWE Royal Rumble will take place this Saturday, Jan. 28. The matches are set; however, it seems the company changed their plans for the women’s title picture for the event.
WWE surprised fans with Charlotte Flair’s return and the defeat of Ronda Rousey for the Smackdown Women’s Championship on the Dec. 30 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Before her match with Flair, Rousey defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the title. However, it’s reported WWE didn’t initially plan for the Rousey and Rodriguez match to happen that soon.
(via WWE)
Fightful Select reports that the company wanted the Rousey and Rodriguez title match to occur at the Royal Rumble. The report also shared that WWE had thought of having Flair work with Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
“…Ronda Rousey Smackdown Women’s Title defense against Raquel Rodriguez that took place on December 30 was actually originally planned to go down almost a full month later. Fightful has gained information that displays that the match was set for the WWE Royal Rumble as of early December,” said the report.
It also added that “…Another interesting note is that several WWE plans have changed as a result of this in relation to it. At the same period, Charlotte Flair was tentatively scheduled on a “suggested matches” list to wrestle Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Rhea Ripley was set to take on Rousey, but that’s when Rousey was still Champion.”
(via WWE)
What’s Next For Ronda Rousey?
After her defeat to Flair, it’s unclear what WWE has planned for Rousey. The report notes that WWE gave her different creative options before Dec. 30. However, it didn’t work out, and they went with Flair defeating Rousey after her match with Rodriguez. It also didn’t share the options that WWE presented to the former champion.
The company could have Rousey challenge Flair for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. However, Flair is working with Sonya Deville, which could get added it the Royal Rumble card. Rousey will have to wait to see what WWE has planned for her.
Rhea Ripley wants to follow in the footsteps of her childhood hero Beth Phoenix by competing in a men’s Royal Rumble match.
Ripley is a member of The Judgment Day faction, along with Finn Balor, Damian Priest and Dominick Mysterio. While the female members of wrestling factions have typically been portrayed as eye candy, Ripley is arguably the enforcer of the group. Over the past several months, the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s champion has gone face-to-face with several male Superstars, including Luke Gallows, Solo Sikoa and Akira Tozawa.
WWE introduced the annual women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018, but Ripley sees a chance to make history and emulate one of her childhood heroes by testing herself against the men. During a recent interview with WrestleBinge, Ripley says she’s ready to make history.
“I would most definitely love to enter the Men’s Royal Rumble. I would love to.”
– Rhea Ripley
Several competitors including Phoenix, Chyna and Nia Jax have competed in the men’s Rumble. However, Ripley is open to the idea of participating in the men’s and women’s Rumbles on the same night, a feat that would etch her name in the history books.
Elsewhere in the Wrestlebinge interview, Ripley spoke about her admiration for Beth Phoenix. She was a huge fan of the ‘Glamazon’ while growing up and related to her muscular body type. She would be honored to ‘fill those shoes’ and help advance the women’s evolution by showing she’s not limited to competing with other women.
We may very well see Rhea Ripley in a men’s Royal Rumble one day. As of this writing, she is entered – and the odds-on favorite to win – the women’s Rumble match.
The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event takes place this Saturday, January 28.
Will The Judgment Day one day walk down the ramp on Monday Night Raw glistening with gold? Perhaps, but that’s not something the group needs.
The Judgment Day was founded by Edge earlier this year and the Rated-R Superstar recruited Priest and Rhea Ripley.
After Finn Balor joined, the group turned on Edge and welcomed Dominik Mysterio as a member at WWE Clash at the Castle in Cardiff.
Championships
While all four members of The Judgment Day have held gold in the past, none have won a championship as part of the faction.
Speaking on The Archive of B-Sox show, Priest said that the group’s success without titles just goes to prove how impressive all four members have been.
“How do you become a focal point of the show not being a champion? That makes you just that much more valuable, and I think that’s where we’re at right now. Let’s make this show revolve around us. Let’s be the main thing on this show, without even having championships.”
Damian Priest
While The Judgment Day is yet to hold gold, Rhea Ripley recently teased going after Bianca Belair and the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
The Future
The Judgment Day has been around for less than a year, but Priest is optimistic about the future.
Speaking about his tenure with the group so far, the former U.S. Champion said that The Judgment Day is just getting started.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been a roller coaster, yes, but we’re ending it at the highest point. We all feel like we’re not even where we need to be yet, which is crazy. The things that we look forward to, the things that we talk about, and what we want to accomplish, we’re just getting started.”
In recent weeks, The Judgment Day has been feuding with the O.C. (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Mia Yim.)
Becky Lynch has high expectations for The Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley, declaring the Australian Superstar the “future of the business.”
Ripley signed with WWE in 2017 and would become the first NXT UK Women’s Champion the following year, as well as the first female Australian champion in WWE history.
After moving to WWE NXT and capturing that brand’s Women’s Championship, Ripley would find similar success after being called up to Raw in early 2021.
The Future
Like Ripley, Becky Lynch is no stranger to success, having held the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships on multiple occasions.
In an interview with Verge, Lynch praised Ripley’s success so far and said she considers her the future of the business.
“I think Rhea is one of the greatest female athletes that we’ve ever seen. I think she’s incredible. She is so young, so full of potential. I look at her and I go ‘well, that’s the future of the business and the business is in good hands.”
Becky Lynch.
Lynch added that while Ripley may indeed be the future, there’s only room for one top star to be called ‘The Man.’
“She’s the future but I’m still the present. There can only be one Man around the place. If I have to put her in her place then I’ll put her in her place.”
Becky Lynch.
Finn Balor
As a member of The Judgment Day, Ripley is working with a Superstar that Lynch has been very familiar with over the years: Finn Balor.
It was Balor who trained Lynch when The Man was starting her wrestling career, and Lynch said it is wise of Ripley to work closely with the inaugural Universal Champion.
“she’s hanging around with somebody that I know pretty well. In fact, somebody that taught me nearly everything that I know. There’s an interesting dynamic there because she’s got Finn Bálor in her corner. I’ve known Finn for over 20 years, so it would be interesting to see what side he would take, you know, if push came to shove.”
Becky Lynch.
Ripley and Lynch did face off during a 2019 episode of WWE NXT but the two are yet to go one-on-one on the main roster.
Rhea Ripley could be on course to challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania for the second time in her career.
In 2021, Ripley challenged then-Raw Women’s Champion Asuka and dethroned the Empress at WrestleMania 37.
This year has seen Ripley align herself with the Judgment Day and is a regular on TV alongside Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio.
WrestleMania
Rhea Ripley may be a regular on TV, but championship matches have proven to be a rarity for the Eradicator.
Ripley’s most recent title opportunity came on the April 18, 2022, edition of Raw, when she and Liv Morgan unsuccessfully challenged then-WWE Women’s Tag Champions Naomi and Sasha Banks.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that there has been a push backstage for Ripley to challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39.
“There’s a very big push for Rhea Ripley. I think we may be looking at Rhea Ripley vs Bianca Belair at WrestleMania [next] year.”
Dave Meltzer.
Ripley had been scheduled to challenge Bianca Belair at this year’s Money in the Bank event but was pulled from the show due to medical issues.
In her place, Belair defeated Carmella to retain the title in the third match of the night.
Bianca Belair
Belair has proven to be a dominant force since her WWE main roster call up in 2020, holding both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships.
Speaking on the Survivor Series WarGames post-show press conference, the EST named Ripley as someone she hopes to face.
“We crossed paths a couple of weeks ago at Raw and we’ve had a long history starting back at NXT all the way to the Royal Rumble. We both won our first titles at WrestleMania 37. We’re both doing equally amazing things, our careers parallel right now. It would be really great to meet at the mountaintop.”
Belair also named Charlotte Flair as someone she’d like to face, though the Queen has been absent from WWE TV since WrestleMania Backlash in May.
The self-proclaimed TBS Champion Nyla Rose challenged the real AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill at Saturday’s AEW Full Gear pay-per-view event.
Rose came out with her manager, Vickie Guerrero, in a low rider as a tribute to the late great Eddie Guerrero. Vickie was also wearing WWE’s Rhea Ripley’s new t-shirt, “I’m Mama,’ which is a spinoff of Eddie’s old t-shirt that stated, ‘I’m Papi.’
The t-shirt was designed in 2005 during the feud between Eddie and Rey Mysterio over the custody of Dominik, who is now in The Judgment Day faction with Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest.
Cargill came out with Thundercats-inspired gear. Before the match got started, Kiera Hogan took a cheap shot at Rose.
The match did have some clunky spots, but down the stretch, things heated up and both women kicked out after hitting each other’s moves. Nyla hit a senton off the top, but Jade hit the pump kick and her Jaded finisher to retain her title.
Bianca Belair, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Mia Yim & TBA vs. Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Nikki Cross & Rhea Ripley has been booked in the first-ever Women’s WarGames match on the main roster for next Saturday’s WWE Survivor Series event.
Michael Cole may have bitten off more than he can chew with a recent remark he made about Rhea Ripley.
The 26-year-old grappler from Adelaide, Australia is one of the most feared Superstars in WWE – and we’re not just talking about the women’s division. Ripley’s career was growing stagnant earlier this year, and she even spoke about the need to get herself back on track. She did just that earlier this year when she joined the Judgment Day faction, which also includes Finn Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio.
The group has been feuding with AJ Styles and The OC. The Judgment Day has gotten the upper hand in this gang warfare so far, with OC leader stating that Ripley is the reason the group has been so dominant.
At WWE’s recent Crown Jewel premium live event, announcer Michael Cole said that someone needs to kick Ripley’s ass. That didn’t go over so well with Ripley. She’s letting Cole know comments like that won’t be tolerated and has since challenge him to a fight.
On Saturday morning, Ripley wrote on Twitter, “Fight me @Michael Cole”
Doin’t expect to see Cole take her up on this challenge. However, one thing is for sure. You can’t just run your mouth about the Judgment Day’s toughest member.
The OC recently brought in Mia Yim to feud with Ripley as part of this ongoing feud.
Rhea Ripley has become a thorn in the side of The OC and is now tormenting fans at WWE Live Events.
The 26-year-old was knocked out of the ring during a WWE Live Event today and rolled towards the barricade that separates the superstars from the fans.
Ripley reached under the barricade and untied a fan’s shoe before rolling away. WWE uploaded video of the mischievous incident on their official Twitter account.
The OC are Looking for Help to Deal with Rhea Ripley
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson recently returned to WWE and reunited with AJ Styles to reform The OC (The Original Club). Finn Balor had been trying to recruit AJ to The Judgment Day but The Phenomenal One declined the offer.
The Judgment Day attacked Styles which led to Gallows and Anderson making the save. On last week’s episode of RAW, Karl Anderson battled Finn Balor in a singles match. During the bout, Rhea confronted Luke Gallows outside the ring and connected with a massive Body Slam.
On last night’s edition of WWE RAW, Rhea attacked Gallows once again during Karl Anderson’s match against Damien Priest. Anderson picked up the victory but it was The Judgment Day that stood tall at the end of the segment. Ripley delivered a low blow to Gallows’ good brothers and left him laying in the ring.
Following last night’s episode of RAW, The OC were interviewed backstage on RAW Talk. AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson admitted that they are struggling with Rhea Ripley and asked interviewer Cathy Kelley to join the group and help them against Ripley. She declined and The OC said that they need to go back to the “drawing board” to deal with Rhea and The Judgment Day.
Rhea Ripley’s performance has been a highlight of Monday Night Raw in the last few weeks. Per the WWE star herself, she is having the time of her life in her current role.
The former NXT UK Women’s Champion recently had an interview with Sports Bible Australia. She talked about things such as working under Triple H and more.
Rhea then discussed how she is getting to work with childhood heroes such as Edge and Rey Mysterio and enjoying her current role:
“I’m having the time of my life and I think that comes across on TV as well.”
– Rhea Ripley
“I’m generally really having fun out there and everything that I’m doing comes so naturally to me because it’s just how I would react to things.”
Rhea Ripley has come a long way since her NXT UK days where she was an upbeat babyface. The Judgement Day member commented on how she never really planned this direction for herself:
“I thought that I was just going to fit in with everyone and be this real upbeat babyface, but that’s because that’s what I was as a kid.
I never really planned on going this way but it’s also just how I’ve also evolved as a human being and how I’ve been portrayed on TV as well.”
Apart from this, Ripley also talked about her storyline with Dominick Mysterio. She claimed that she is glad Dominik is finally coming into his own.
Rhea Ripley has been on a mean streak since turning on former partner Liv Morgan back in April, but her character has taken a noticeably darker turn since joining Judgment Day.
The former Raw Women’s champion is one of the toughest competitors in WWE. With Finn Balor and Damian Priest at her side, she’s more dangerous than ever. Ripley has been racking up wins and it’s only a matter of time before she’s back in the title picture.
Ripley participated in a media scrum prior to Saturday’s Clash at the Castle event and told Inside the Ropes that she believes it’s important to constantly evolve your on-screen presence. During her time wrestling in the women’s tag team division with Nikki A.S.H. and later Liv Morgan, she “lost herself” along the way and regressed as a performer.
“I sort of lost myself and lost that brutal streak that I had… I was becoming too lovey-dovey and just like, trying to please people again,” she said.
Confident, Chaotic and Brutal
Rhea Ripley realized she was losing her edge, so she looked within herself. She remembered who she really is, which is what got her to the big time (WWE) in the first palce.
“I was like, ‘Nah, nah, fam. I don’t want this, I don’t like this.’ So, I’m just gonna be me again. [I’m going to be] confident and be a menace and just be chaotic and brutal.”
– Rhea Ripley
The Judgment Day is riding a wave of momentum following Clash at the Castle. After months of feuding with Rey and Dominik Mysterio, Dom did the unthinkable and turned on his father at the event. It remains to be seen if he’ll join the group, but Judgment Day remains at the forefront of WWE storylines, thanks in no small part to Rhea Ripley.
Watch Rhea Ripley’s comments about her decision to join The Judgment Day:
The Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley has caught the attention of WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.
Edge formed The Judgment Day group alongside Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. However, the group betrayed The Rated-R Superstar after Finn Balor joined. Edge returned to WWE at SummerSlam and vowed to destroy the group he created.
He is off to a good start, as the 48-year-old defeated Damian Priest in the main event of this past Monday’s RAW. The show took place in Edge’s hometown of Toronto and he said that he will retire when the promotion returns to the area again next year.
After the match, Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley rushed to the ring. Rhea hit Edge with a low blow and Finn set him up for the con-chair-to. Beth Phoenix hopped over the barricade and chased the heels off. RAW went off the air with Beth and Edge standing tall in the ring.
Rhea Ripley Deletes Tweet About a Potential Match Against Beth Phoenix
Earlier today, Rhea tweeted out a bizarre message addressed to herself. A member of the Squared Circle subreddit captured the tweet that hinted at a future match against The Glamazon. You can check out the full deleted tweet here.
“I just know @RheaRipley_WWE is going to bring some hell to Beth Phoenix. I’m rooting for her all the way!”
Beth recently joined Busted Open Radio and delivered a warning to the 25-year-old: “I’m not really happy about the ball shot, but that really pissed me off. So, I hold a grudge really deep in my heart, and whether or not I get to exact some revenge remains to be seen, but I’d love to see that happen.”
Beth Phoenix was in the front row this past Monday to watch her husband, Edge, battle Damian Priest in the main event of RAW.
The match took place in Edge’s hometown of Toronto, Canada. Edge defeated The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest in the first step in destroying the group that betrayed him a couple of months ago.
After the match, Rhea Ripley hit the 48-year-old with a low blow and Finn Balor brought a chair into the ring. Beth hopped over the barricade and entered the ring with a chair of her own. The Judgment Day retreated as Beth stood tall with her husband as the show went off the air.
After the show went off the air, The Ultimate Opportunist revealed that he plans on retiring when WWE returns to Toronto. You can check out his full comments here.
Beth Phoenix warns Rhea Ripley
The Glamazon joined Busted Open Radio today with Dave LaGreca and Tommy Dreamer. During the discussion, Tommy asked if a potential match with Rhea is a possibility. Beth didn’t answer the question directly but hinted that it could happen.
“We’ll have to see. I don’t know. With wrestling, it’s like, I take it one day at a time. Everything changes, anything can happen,” said Pheonix. “I feel that is a young lady that I have loved watching grow, flourish and thrive, and Adam’s promo was a shoot. The intention in having Rhea, Damian Priest, and Finn Balor from the start was to give three talents that deserve to be at the top of the heap that platform.” [00:09-00:40]
She then discussed Rhea hitting Edge with a low blow and admitted that it really pissed her off.
“But they also have to shine on that platform. You saw Damian Priest kick ass on Monday. We saw Rhea Ripley, she’s standing out, and stepping up like she deserves. But I’m not really happy about the ball shot, but that really pissed me off. So, I hold a grudge really deep in my heart, and whether or not I get to exact some revenge remains to be seen, but I’d love to see that happen.” [00:41-01:05]
WWE has been plagued with a series of injuries in recent weeks which has kept a lot of top stars out of action.
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are just two names who are hurt, and it’s not just the men’s division missing out.
Rhea Ripley is also on the shelf, having suffered a brain injury, but the former Raw Women’s Champion may be dealing with another medical issue.
The Heart Monitor
On Instagram, Ripley showed off the new heart monitor she is now wearing but did not specify the reason.
Typically, heart monitors are used to detect and record any irregularities in the heart.
Seeing the funny side of things, Ripley joked that she’s now Iron Man, the MARVEL Comics character who uses a device on his chest to keep himself alive.
Ripley’s injury could arguably not come at a worse time for her character.
Mere weeks before her injury, the Australian Superstar had been revealed as a new member of The Judgment Day, which turned on Edge shortly before her injury.
Despite an initial strong start, The Judgment Day has struggled on WWE TV since Ripley’s absence, with Finn Balor and Damian Priest losing both matches since Rhea’s injury, albeit by disqualification.
Ripley had also been next in line for a Raw Women’s Championship match, but was pulled from the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event due to her injury.
Rhea Ripley is one of the most talented and well-received women in WWE today. After her successes in NXT and NXT UK, she made a splash by debuting on the main roster opposite Charlotte Flair in a match that stole the show at WrestleMania 36.
From there, Ripley’s resume includes a Raw Women’s Championship victory over Asuka at WrestleMania 37, and most recently garnering a high profile angle as the first female addition to the Judgment Day faction.
From her on screen partnerships, to her aesthetic, to her positioning within the women’s roster, more and more reasons have developed for why fans might liken her career to Lita’s.
Like Lita, Rhea Ripley Is A Woman Sharing A Mutually Beneficial Partnership With Men
After a couple of bit parts and false start working as part of The Godfather’s entourage and with Essa Rios, Lita rose to prominence as part of Team Xtreme. The Hardy Boyz were a cool tag team with an edgy look and eye-catching aerial offense. Lita fit that style perfectly.
Having a uniquely talented and attractive woman with them elevated The Hardys, while being paired with a featured tag team got Lita more time on screen and a more clearly defined persona. Later in her career, Lita enjoyed a similar relationship with Edge.
Having a well-known femme fatale in his corner helped The Rated R Superstar feel more credible as a top tier act, while a provocative partnership with Edge helped Lita get over as the top heel of the women’s division.
WrestleMania Backlash saw Rhea Ripley strike up her own partnership with Edge when she joined his Judgment Day faction. The Nightmare, Damian Priest, and Finn Balor have since turned on Edge but the core consideration remains in place.
She‘s a woman, paired with men who have similar dark and edgy personas, and everyone involved stands to benefit from this alliance and the clear identity it lends them.
Like Lita, Rhea Ripley Has A Different Aesthetic
Part of Lita standing out during the Attitude Era was her signature look. In a sea of blonds who looked like clean-cut fitness models, Lita had bright red hair, highly visible tattoos, and a signature look that included a thong peeking out from her pants.
There’s a somewhat similar ethos to Ripley’s act. With short hair, tattoos, piercings, and leather, she stands out from the pack of female performers in WWE, looking a bit edgy, a bit alternative, and perhaps most importantly like a clearly identifiable character no fan is ever likely to confuse with another woman from the WWE roster.
Like Lita, Rhea Ripley Has Lingered One Step Shy Of The Top
Lita was one of the best and most popular female performers of her day. However, it was difficult to ever call her the top woman in WWE, at least in a sustained way. Just as Randy Savage tended to play second fiddle to Hulk Hogan, or Randy Orton spent the better part of a decade one step behind John Cena’s stardom, Lita was a key rival, but ultimately second fiddle to Trish Stratus.
Some of that comes down to timing—particularly when Lita got hurt going into what might have been her biggest push for WrestleMania 21–but regardless, she tends to be remembered more as half of a package deal with Stratus than as the face of the division on her own.
Time will tell how Rhea Ripley’s career wil play out. In NXT UK, though, she shared the top women’s spot with Toni Storm, and in NXT she tended to be featured a step behind Io Shirai and Raquel Gonzalez at different points.
On the main roster, Ripley has had her moments, but Charlotte Flair has tended to get the best of their exchanges and Bianca Belair has surpassed The Nightmare in their cohort of talents, when it comes to kayfabe accomplishments like title reigns and winning the Royal Rumble, as well as overall star power.
At twenty-five years old there is still plenty of time for Rhea Ripley to carve out her legacy. The fact that WWE’s women’s division is much better featured now can be a blessing and curse in comparing her run to Lita’s, as The Nightmare certainly has more opportunities to break out, but also a more crowded roster to overcome to stand out from the pack. Nonetheless, key elements of their presentation and journey have overlapped so far.
Former WWE Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley will not be wrestling at WWE Money in the Bank after all.
During the opening segment of Monday Night Raw, Bianca Belair announced that Ripley will not be medically cleared in time to compete at this upcoming event where she was scheduled to challenge Belair for the Raw Women’s Title.
As a result, she has been pulled from the bout. Belair revealed that Alexa Bliss vs Liv Morgan vs Carmella vs Asuka vs Becky Lynch would take place on the show in a fatal 5-way bout to determine the #1 contender who will challenge her for the title at Money in the Bank.
As of this writing, there’s no word yet on the exact injury that Ripley is dealing with. This is the latest star to go down to injury as Cody Rhodes is out with a torn pec and Randy Orton is likely out of action for the rest of the year if he undergoes surgery to repair a back injury as WWE fears may have to happen.
Other matches confirmed for the July 2 premium live event include the two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya for the SmackDown Women’s Championship and more.
