Bronson Reed, Rhea Ripley react to WWE’s ‘historic’ Australian announcement

A global superstar from Adelaide has been spotted at a local gym with her fiance, meeting a few lucky fans, ahead of a huge announcement.

Entertainment giant WWE’s announcement of its first major Australian event in more than five years is a dream come true, the company’s two Adelaide stars say.

Professional wrestling star Bronson Reed (real name Jermaine Haley) told The Advertiser he had grown up wanting to just see a major WWE show in Australia, and he was now set to perform in one.

“It will be the first time I’ve been back in Australia for WWE at all,” he said.

“I moved here in 2019 and ever since then I was like, ‘I hope WWE goes back to Australia’ and every year, unfortunately, things didn’t work out but now finally it’s happening.”

Reed said he only found out the multibillion-dollar firm would be travelling to Perth in February to stage its unique Elimination Chamber show on the eve of the announcement.

“It’s a Premium Live Event too, it’s Elimination Chamber in a huge stadium so I couldn’t really ask for more, he said.

“It’s sort of surreal. I’ve been wrestling for such a long time it feels like a culmination of all my work,” he said.

WWE said on Thursday it would be staging its 2024 Elimination Chamber event on February 24 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

WWE professional wrestler Bronson Reed (real name Jermaine Haley) from Adelaide appears on WWE Raw. Picture: WWE

WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley (Demi Bennett). Picture: WWE

The company said the show would be broadcast into one billion homes in about 165 countries and 25 languages.

Reed said it was a milestone in the industry for Australian fans and performers, with three Australian stars up in lights including himself, Adelaide’s Rhea Ripley (Demi Bennett) and Sydney’s Grayson Waller (Matthew Farrelly).

Ripley was spotted in Adelaide posing with fans and her fiance Buddy Matthews at a local gym just after the announcement.

It will be the first time any of the trio have performed live in Australia since hitting it big with the US-based entertainment giant. None were on the card when WWE staged its last major show at the MCG in 2018.

“When I was a kid watching these big events it was great. I got to see The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, all these big names but I never got to see any Australians on the show,” Reed said.

“But this time we have representation so all of the kids who are going to be there, and everyone who’s going to be there, actually has hometown heroes that they can cheer for.

“It’s a crazy time if you’re a wrestling fan.”

WA Deputy Premier and tourism minister Rita Saffioti hailed the event as a “coup” for her state.

“It will shine a global spotlight on Western Australia to billions of viewers worldwide, attract thousands of out-of-state visitors to WA and create an incredible atmosphere in the city for the local community and visitors alike,” she said.

WWE said it planned to stage a week of events in the lead up to the February 24 extravaganza.

Announcing the Perth show, Reed’s fellow Adelaide superstar, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, said she was also pleased to finally perform on the big stage in front of Australian fans.

“I’m beyond proud to represent Australia every single time I step inside a WWE ring and to bring a Premium Live Event to Perth is a dream come true,” she said.

“Get ready Australia, because Mami is coming home.”

Fans have been encouraged to register online for the Elimination Chamber Perth ticket pre-sale.