Rhea Ripley’s journey to becoming a top WWE star has been a rollercoaster ride filled with ups and downs, but she has persevered to become one of the most popular women on the roster. In this news article, we will explore her rise to fame, including her recent WrestleMania 39 win against Charlotte Flair, as well as her experience navigating media opportunities in the wrestling industry.
From WrestleMania 36 to WrestleMania 39
Three years ago at WrestleMania 36, there were high expectations for Ripley to become a top WWE star after Charlotte Flair challenged her for the title, but she lost and disappeared from television for a while. Fast forward to WrestleMania 39, and Ripley has become a dominant presence in the ring, showcasing her goth look and power moves as a member of the Judgment Day faction.
Ripley won the Royal Rumble and challenged Flair for the SmackDown women’s title at WrestleMania 39, culminating in her rise to the top. Fans strongly supported Ripley during the match, which was not in the main event slot but placed in the penultimate spot. Despite this placement, Ripley and Flair exhibited an incredible match that left fans cheering for more.
Finding Confidence and Embracing Fans
Reflecting on her journey, Ripley credits her growth and improvement to finding confidence in herself, despite it being a rollercoaster situation. This newfound confidence has allowed her to establish her name and have fun in the ring while being true to herself.
Ripley also enjoys interacting with fans at house shows and embraces her role as a dastardly villain while still being a role model for young girls to be themselves. Her chemistry with Dominik Mysterio has surprised her, with the two of them having a fun dynamic together in the Judgment Day faction. Ripley even shares secrets with Mysterio during their matches, which often makes him crack a smile and adds to their chemistry.
Navigating Media Opportunities
In addition to her in-ring success, Ripley has had to navigate various media opportunities that come with being a professional wrestler. These can range from interviews where she answers questions in character for some publications to talking about the business of wrestling as herself for others.
It can be difficult to find a balance between character and personal responses in these situations, and wrestlers need to be able to seamlessly switch between talking about the business and their character depending on the context of the interview. While media training is not always extensively provided for wrestlers, Ripley has found her own flow and answers.
Social media can also be a toxic place for wrestlers, but it can also be a platform for fans to appreciate and show support for their work. Ripley has embraced this aspect of social media, regularly interacting with fans and sharing updates on her wrestling career.
Looking to the Future
Ripley is currently on an undefeated streak after winning the SmackDown women’s title at WrestleMania 39. She could potentially have a historic reign as champion, with the possibility of facing Bianca Belair in a Title vs. Title match.
In terms of media opportunities, Ripley will continue to navigate interviews as both herself and her character while finding a balance that works best for her. With her rise to WWE stardom still in progress, there’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing more about Rhea Ripley in the years to come.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
