In a wrestling world historically dominated by men, Rhea Ripley stands as an embodiment of unparalleled success and empowerment. At just 27 years of age, Ripley has climbed the ladder of professional wrestling at a breathtaking pace, cementing her position as the undisputed leader of The Judgement Day faction and securing the WWE Women’s World Championship earlier this year.
Ripley’s journey within WWE, spanning over six years, has been nothing short of remarkable. She’s been consistently headlining shows across the United States, ultimately becoming the centerpiece of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw.
Her meteoric rise hit an awe-inspiring peak in 2023, as she emerged victorious from the Royal Rumble and triumphed over the legendary Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 in a match hailed by many as the greatest in women’s wrestling history.
In an exclusive interview with The Sporting News, Ripley shared her vision for the future, emphasizing that her triumphs thus far are merely a prologue to what lies ahead.
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“I feel like I’m just scratching the surface,” she declared. “I’m not done yet, and I haven’t hit that wall. I want to take over this company and see how far I can get.”
Ripley’s awe-inspiring list of accomplishments includes holding every championship in WWE available to her since she entered the company in 2017. Her current championship reign has already surpassed 200 days and shows no signs of slowing down.
A significant factor in Ripley’s recent success is her alignment with The Judgement Day, which has established itself as one of the most dominant stables in the past decade. With experienced veterans like Finn Balor and Damian Priest, alongside second-generation star Dominik Mysterio, the faction has been a force to be reckoned with since mid-2022. What’s remarkable is that, despite the group’s composition primarily comprising alpha males, Ripley has organically risen as its true leader.
“We don’t technically have a leader,” Ripley explained. “None of us really lead – we just have specific jobs that we are better at. They all listen to me and they all believe in me, and it helps me believe in myself at the same time.”
Her on-screen partnership with Dominik Mysterio has garnered an array of emotional responses from fans worldwide, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. But according to Ripley, their journey is far from its conclusion.
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“I feel like we’re only just scratching the surface… I think it could be something we can ride for a long time,” she confidently stated.
In the midst of her championship reign, Ripley is now on the cusp of headlining a major show in front of her adoring home fans in Perth at the Elimination Chamber premium live event in 2024. As a proud representative of the Australian wrestling scene, Ripley shared her deep connection with her fellow Aussies, emphasizing the impact she has on her home country.
“Going home and going to Riot City Wrestling for a random training every now and then, and hearing their stories on how they started watching WWE and how I’ve inspired them… that’s the thing that really makes you think about your job,” she said.
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“I’ve had a few people reach out to me online and obviously in person too… it makes me feel proud and it makes me feel happy that I get to inspire people like others inspired me. I love hearing their stories, and it makes my job really worth it.”
Ripley’s excitement about WWE’s forthcoming show in Australia is palpable, and she looks forward to the electric atmosphere when she returns home. For many, the prospect of witnessing this WWE megastar on home turf is a dream come true.
“I think it’s gonna be an absolutely ballistic, wild night, and I can’t wait to hear the crowd and feel that electricity while I’m out there,” Ripley declared, hinting at a night to remember for both herself and her fans.
