Brutal truth: Adelaide-born WWE superstar Rhea Ripley wins championship gold at WrestleMania

Adelaide’s WWE superstar Rhea Ripley has claimed championship gold on the world’s biggest stage. Watch her exclusive interview here.

As Rhea Ripley left Adelaide to pursue her wrestling dream, a friend advised her to “never forget where you came from, but leave it far behind”.

This week, the 24-year-old from Glenelg followed that advice to the highest pinnacle of World Wrestling Entertainment by winning its Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.

In a dream scenario, Ripley – who, ironically, is nicknamed “The Nightmare” – defeated a personal idol, Japanese wrestler Asuka, to become the face of the company’s female ranks.

She did so in front of 25,000 fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida, having entered the ring to a live performance by her favourite musician, Ash Costello.

“It’s been such an emotional and wild rollercoaster of two days, honestly a dream come true – I finally got my WrestleMania moment,” she told The Advertiser on Tuesday.

“Walking out there and seeing the crowd and hearing the reaction … it really brought a tear to my eye but I was like ‘I’ve got to keep myself together’.

“So I really, really tried and I think I did okay – no tears were shed until afterwards – but it was so surreal, going out there, looking around and seeing everyone … just wild.”

Ripley’s triumph came in front of 25,000 screaming fans at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium. Picture: WWE.

For a woman who chased her goal despite bullying, self-doubt, depression and homesickness, there could be no greater triumph.

“It felt like everything that I had worked for really meant something, like (for) every single time someone has doubted me I’ve proved them wrong,” she said.

“I’m not going to say I’ve had the toughest run, but my wrestling journey has been really, really hard – I’ve had people doubt me at every corner.”

Ripley said she was grateful for the support of family and friends back home, including those with whom she shared a locker room at SA’s Riot City Wrestling.

“Without that I don’t think, mentally, I would be able to hold up the Raw Women’s Championship and pretty much just know I’ve made everyone proud,” she said.

“I just kept telling myself ‘don’t cry, and make sure you hold it (the championship) up so everyone can see it’.

“And I’m just going to tell you on a side note – that thing is really, really heavy … I didn’t expect it, I was so surprised, my arm was so tired.”

Rhea Ripley competes on WWE Raw, Tuesdays at 9.30am on Fox8.

Ripley before her WWE debut in 2017.

Ripley as she prepares to battle at WrestleMania. Picture: WWE (2021).

BEFORE THE BOUT

On Sunday, as she prepared for the match, Ripley spoke with the Sunday Mail.

The flowing locks, colourful attire and sunny disposition that made young Rhea Ripley the beloved rising star of Adelaide’s professional wrestling scene? Gone.

In that Ripley’s place stands a towering figure of unmatched brutality – a powerhouse of dark hues, leather and chains, topped with steel spikes and flashing a malevolent grin.

Embracing her inner “mosh pit kid” has catapulted the Glenelg-born grappler to the dizzying heights of World Wrestling Entertainment and, on Monday, she looks to ascend to its pinnacle.

She will make her second appearance at WWE’s annual WrestleMania event in a match against Japanese legend Asuka – and the winner will be crowned Women’s Champion.

Ripley is no stranger to gold, having held the company’s NXT and NXT UK titles, but a win on Monday would make her the face of WWE’s central TV program, Raw.

It has been an incredible evolution for the woman who sat backstage, near tears, before her first WWE appearance just four years ago – and every moment has made her stronger.

“I’m proud of how far I’ve come in this business … everything I’ve been through, I’ve tried to take bits and pieces from it and put it into what I do now,” she told the Sunday Mail.

“It’s insane to think that, between Adelaide, Japan and WWE, I’ve had a near decade-long career in wrestling – and I’m 24 years old.”

WWE’s faith in Ripley, built on both her achievements so far and her untapped potential, is obvious just from a glance at its marketing.

She features in YouTube clips and documentaries, appears on its social media platforms and is promoted heavily in merchandising – she has not one, but two, action figures already.

But the biggest nod may be her entrance this weekend, when she will be played to the ring, live, by Ash Costello and New Year’s Day – the band that recorded her theme music.

“It’s insane, it’s absolutely insane … I’m pumped, I can’t even describe how excited I am for this,” she said.

“I’ve been listening to their music for years, and now Ash and I have become friends, so I can’t wait to share this moment with her.

“It’s the first time she’s been able to perform live since the pandemic.”

Ripley takes to the air against Charlotte Flair at last year’s WrestleMania. Picture: WWE (2021).

Like her WWE family, Ripley has continued performing during the COVID-19 crisis – on closed sets, with no fans in attendance, under strict testing regimens.

When she and Charlotte Flair battled at last year’s WrestleMania, they did so in an empty arena with only cameras watching.

In a twist worthy of wrestling itself, their match was universally hailed as the event’s standout performance – further cementing Ripley’s rise.

“It was another history-making moment – the first WrestleMania with zero fans in attendance – but it was so weird to me,” she said.

“Still, I’m so glad Charlotte and I had that match … I’m proud of how good it was and so grateful for the positive response, and I learned a lot from it – even though I lost.”

That experience led to another shift in Ripley’s on-screen character – from hard-edged hero to “take no prisoners” antihero.

Ripley’s antihero attitude has returned in time for her big bout. Picture: WWE (2021).

“I’ve gone back to what always worked for me in NXT UK, which is when I was at my most dangerous and got what I wanted all the time,” she said.

“I feel like I got a bit soft while I was in NXT, that I started caring too much about others and being there for the save, and yet no one was ever there for me.

“Now, all I care about is succeeding in this company, becoming the champion and getting what I want – beyond that, I just don’t care anymore.”

Strong words, but there is one thing Ripley cares about – the fact fans will be in attendance this weekend to see her championship match live and in person.

“That first ‘pop’ of crowd noise, that first roar, is going to feel so amazing,” she said.

“I’ve been picturing it in my mind … walking down the ramp, hearing New Year’s Day play my music, hearing everyone around me, making eye contact with fans from the ring.

“I feel like I’m not going to be able to soak it all in, that it’s not going to really hit me until after the match and I’m backstage.

“But that’s okay – because when it hits me, I’ll be the WWE Raw Women’s Champion.”