Wrestling is finding renewed popularity with audiences (likely due to the WWE’s merger with streaming giant Netflix), bringing with it a fresh perspective, renewed energy, and attracting a new generation of fans to the sport.
The talent pool is also as good as it’s ever been, but what sets the modern era apart from the ‘golden days’, is the talent in the women’s division, which has been in tip top shape over the last decade.
At the very top of the game sits Australia’s own Rhea Ripley, who is taking the WWE by storm with her incredible in-ring skills, her loveable gimmick and larger than life personality.
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It makes sense that all eyes are on the woman known as “Mami”, but does it make sense to Rhea Ripley?
“There’s never a moment of silence in this line of work,” Rhea said in a one-on-one chat with SPORTbible Australia.
“The last year has been a rollercoaster; it’s had its ups and downs. It had times where I didn’t think it would pick up, then it did.
“It’s absolute insanity and I’m loving every step of the way.”
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Being an Australian treasure is no easy feat and many Aussies on the national stage have crumbled under that pressure.
Rhea Ripley not only thrives under that pressure, but she takes great pride in the culture she’s representing.
“Every now and then someone in the crowd raises an Australian flag, or there’s a chant of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’.
“It reminds me of where I’ve come from and how far my journey has taken me, and it makes me really proud.
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“It makes me want to do more for Australia in the entertainment scene, to open up opportunities for more Australians to come on over and work in WWE.
“I don’t really have words to describe the feelings I feel every time I hear someone get announced from Australia.
“It’s making history for Australia and I’m really proud of everyone.”
The WWE road to WresleMania is in full swing and with it comes many gifts.
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One of those gifts is the arrival of WWE 2K25 on March 14, giving gamers a chance to live out their WrestleMania dreams before the huge two-night event arrives in April.
For the fans that can’t wait to play as Rhea, you may be able to live out your dream match with intergender wrestling for the first time in 2K history.
This means you can now put Rhea up against a dream opponent of your choosing, but who is Rhea going to face when the game drops?
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“I would like to see videos of me, Rhea Ripley, absolutely obliterating Dominic Mysterio.
“I’d love to face people like Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, Randy Orton.
“Maybe I can live out my dream of taking an RKO, but it’ll be in 2K25.”
Whether it be LIVE on Raw on Netflix or in the video game world of WWE 2K, Rhea is the national treasure that Australia deserves.
Bryce Webster