Adelaide’s Rhea Ripley makes history by becoming first Australian woman to win a WWE championship
SHE has made history in her second global tournament in less than a month — but if you don’t want to know how Adelaide wrestling superstar Rhea Ripley has done it … look away now.
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ADELAIDE wrestler Rhea Ripley has made history by becoming the first Australian woman to ever hold a championship with global industry powerhouse WWE.
On Monday morning, Ripley — aka Glenelg-born Demi Bennett — won the inaugural WWE NXT UK Women’s Champion following a tournament before thousands of fans in Birmingham, England.
The 21-year-old, who is in just her second year with the company, beat out seasoned veterans including Australia’s Toni Storm and New Zealand’s Dakota Kai for the historic victory.
She was handed her championship by British wrestling legend Johnny Saint and had her hand raised by former WWE champion Triple H.
It is the second time in less than a month that Triple H, who helps run the company, has praised the Adelaide grappler’s abilities on a global stage.
Just weeks ago, he took to the stage to raise her hand after her commanding performance in the global Mae Young Classic tournament.
The accolade is especially significant for Ripley, perhaps even beyond her historic title victory.
She grew up idolising Triple H, and it was his example that inspired her to pursue a career in wrestling and try out for WWE.
Ripley is the first Australian woman, and only the second Australian, to win a championship within WWE.
Buddy Murphy – aka Melbourne’s Matt Adams – was the first, capturing the NXT Tag-Team Championship with his American partner, Wesley Blake, in 2015.
Both Ripley and Murphy were champions with Adelaide wrestling promotion Riot City Wrestling before they were scouted and recruited by WWE.
Ripley, a two-time RCW Women’s Champion, was discovered by the company and trained by brothers Chris and Mat Basso.
She also undertook further training in Japan before signing with WWE in July last year.
The WWE NXT UK special is expected to screen on the WWE network in the coming weeks.