Rhea Ripley one step closer to WWE history after Wrestlemania 40 blockbuster

Almost exactly one year after climbing to the top on the world’s biggest stage, Adelaide’s Rhea Ripley is closing in on another huge feat.

Australia’s greatest ever professional wrestler is closing in on another historic milestone after defending her WWE championsip at Wrestlemania 40 in the US on Sunday.

Rhea Ripley (Demi Bennett) defeated WWE veteran Becky Lynch in Philadelphia on Sunday morning local time, almost a year to the day after beginning her reign as WWE Woman’s World Champion.

Ripley has now held the belt for 369 consecutive days and is firming as the likely successor to fellow star Bianca Belair’s 420 day championship reign.

Rhea Ripley reacts after defeating Becky Lynch for the WWE Women's World Championship during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Picture: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Adelaide WWE star Bronson Reed with the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy. Picture: WWE

The win comes just months after Ripley received a hero’s welcome in her Australian homecoming when WWE brought its Elimination Chamber premium live event to Perth.

Ripley’s win comes after a golden weekend for Australia’s WWE exports.

Sydney star Grayson Waller was crowned one of the company’s tag team champions just an hour after Ripley got her three count.

The event also saw the long-awaited wrestling return of industry icon turned Hollywood superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

That comes just a day after fellow Adelaide performer and Wrestle Rampage product Bronson Reed (Jermaine Haley) receieved the honor of being named victor in the company’s annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the Smackdown TV show.

Adelaide’s ‘next Rhea Ripley’ welcomes big name comparisons

The woman being touted as Australia’s “next Rhea Ripley” says her fast-approaching collision with two other major US stars will be the biggest moment in her career to date.

Adelaide rising professional wrestling star Delta Brady is set to perform alongside TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in Ballarat next month (April) in an event presented by trailblazing TNA and WWE star Mickie James.

Delta said her April 12 clash on the all-female HER card with the veteran American star would be her second encounter with international stars after appearing alongside Smashing Pumpkin’s frontman Billy Corgan’s NWA promotion during his band’s most recent Australian tour.

Riot City Wrestling Grand Champion Delta. Picture: Matilda Comley/@compass_mc

Rhea Ripley celebrates in the crowd with her family in Perth after WWE’s Elimination Chamber live event in February. Picture: WWE

But, she said, the Ballarat Oceana Pro Wrestling clash with Grace would be her biggest booking to date. And hoped it would be the first of many dates alongside major US names.

“When I found out I was wrestling Jordynne Grace I was like, ‘do you have the right person?’,” Delta said.

“It’s going to be an absolute hard-hitting boss fight between two big, beefy women.

“With Mickie James you just look at everything she’s done, and for her to organise all of this is just the coolest thing.

Delta says comparison’s to her fellow South Australian and Riot City Wrestling export, all-conquering WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley (Demi Bennett), were encouraging.

“I’ve got to be honest and say it’s such an ego trip because she’s such a great wrestler and to be compared to her means people must think I’m pretty good at it too,” she said.

Delta credits Ripley with creating a game changing situation for Australian wrestlers, but particularly for female performers.

“Just in the last six months women’s wrestling has risen drastically. We’re not just working like the men now, we’ve got our own style, we hit hard and we do our own thing,” she said.

If Delta can successfully add Grace’s TNA Knockouts title to her trophy cabinet, it would make her the third reigning Aussie champion in major US promotion alongside Adelaide’s Ripley in WWE and the Gold Coast’s Toni Storm at All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

”They say there’s something in the water in Adelaide but I think we’ve just really got some of the best coaches and trainers here,” Delta said.

Delta will not be the only Adelaide up-and-comer coming into contact with a huge opponent in Ballarat thought, with big man Tommy Knight set to encounter AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs one night later at Stampede Australia, presented by wrestling legend Bret “Hitman” Hart.

Adelaide professional wrestler Tommy Knight. Picture: Supplied

While confident he would win too, Knight said he was interested to find out exactly how big a clash he had on his hands when he ran into the American rising star for the first time.

Knight agreed that Adelaide was punching well above its weight and also pointed to the “world class” standards of the city’s Riot City Wrestling and Wrestle Rampage promotions for turning out global stars like Ripley and her South Australian WWE colleague Bronson Reed (Jermaine Haley).

Knight will be in action alongside Adelaide tag team The Parea, who have also been creating their own buzz around the country as they build a passionate following with local fans.

Delta, Tommy Knight and The Parea will perform for Oceania Pro Wrestling as part of the four-day Starrcast Downunder event at Ballarat from April 11-14.

Night 2 of WWE Wrestlemania 40 will stream live on Kayo and Binge on Monday from 8.30am CST.