Katrina
Before Rhea joined The Judgment Day, I was first introduced to Rhea Ripley when she competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic in 2017. In 2018, Rhea would reach the semi-finals of the 2018 edition of the Mae Young Tournament. After, she would be part of the NXT UK brand. In August of the same year, she would become the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion. Rhea is also the first female Australian champion in WWE history. Rhea would move to the NXT brand in 2019 until 2021. She would become the NXT Women’s Champion during that time. She was first person from NXT to defend her title at WrestleMania 36 against Charlotte Flair. I’m going to give you my Top 5 Rhea Ripley Moments.
# 5 First Ever NXT UK Women’s Champion
Shortly, after the Mae Young Classic in 2018, Rhea would become part of the NXT UK brand. She was part of the premiere episode. Rhea would take part in a tournament of 8 women to decide who would be the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion.
During this time, she would defeat Xia Brookside, and Dakota Kai in the semi-finals. On November 28, 2018, Rhea would take on Toni Storm in the finals and she would win this match. She would become the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion. Rhea would have 2 title defenses, where she would successfully retain her belt. One being Isla Dawn and the other Deonna Purrazzo. She would drop the tile to Toni Storm ending her reign of 139 days.
Rhea was the first Australian woman to win a championship in WWE history, and the second Australian after Buddy Matthews. (Her current fiance.)
#4 Rhea Winning the NXT Women’s Championship
In August 2019, Rhea will come to NXT after leaving NXT UK. She would interrupt Shayna Baszler who was the NXT Women’s Champion at the time. During this feud, Rhea would lead Team Ripley for NXT Takeover: War Games. She would win for her team, by pinning Shayna Baszler. In December of the same year, she would defeat Shayna and become the new NXT Women’s Champion. I wasn’t a fan of Shayna, and loved Rhea, so this made me very happy. She would become the first woman to win both the NXT UK and NXT Women’s Championship belts.
#3 WrestleMania 39 & The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Before WrestleMania 39 on Monday Night Raw, Rhea would challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. After Rhea lost her NXT title to Charlotte on the second night of WrestleMania 36. I was highly upset about this, so I was happy she chose Charlotte. The night she fought Charlotte for the SmackDown’s Wome’s title, I was stressed, as I remembered what they had done with the two of them before. But inside I knew they couldn’t do anything too crazy after her impressive Royal Rumble victory. Rhea would win the title and she still holds it to this day. While again, even being a heel, the crowd loved this just as much as I did.
With this win, she would become the 5th Women’s Grand Slam champion. Doing so at 26 made her the youngest Grand Slam Champion of all time. She is also the 7th Women’s Triple Crown Champion.
#2 Rhea and The Judgment Day
At WrestleMania BackLash in 2022, Rhea Ripley will show up to help Edge defeat AJ Styles and she would go on to join the Judgment Day a stable that was created by Edge and featured Damian Priest.
While Edge was kicked out and since has left the company, The Judgment Day which now features Finn Balor, and Dominik Mysterio as the other 2 members.
While the other members have been great at the heel stable that they are (giving a nod to Dominik Mysterio), Rhea has truly shined in her role as the Queen Bee of Judgment Day.
Rhea has been integral in helping them when needed as a supporting role even going as far as to spearing some of the men on the roster. Rhea has continued to enthrall all fans alike with her diabolical tendencies that help the Judgment Day.
#1 Rhea Ripley in The Royal Rumble 2023
In January 2023, Rhea would enter the Women’s Royal Rumble, as the number one entrant. She would go on to do some amazing things. During this time, Rhea would spend over an hour in the Rumble. This was a history-making moment. as Rhea would set the record for the longest time any woman spent in the Rumble. During this, she would go on to also eliminate an entrant at 5 seconds, another record as the fastest elimination in the women’s Rumble. Rhea would enter number one and be the last woman standing, making her the first woman to win the Rumble from the number one spot. She would go on to earn the championship and will win it at WrestleMania 39.
Sure, Rhea was and still is a heel during all of this, but I will defend Rhea in all her wrongs.(LOL) She is amazing.
There have been some other cool moments for me with regard to Rhea. What are some of your Top 5 Rhea Ripley Moments?
