WWE star Rhea Ripley experiences the biggest moment of her career at No Escape (Elimination Chamber) in her native Australia. Emotional scenes follow
Thirty-two years ago, WWE created a moment for the ages with the British Bulldog’s big home win over Bret Hart at London’s Wembley Stadium – these scenes had a similar feel.
At the No Escape (Elimination Chamber) mega-show, the wrestling empire gave young women’s champion Rhea Ripley the biggest and most emotional moment of her career to date: in front of over 52,000 in Perth, the Australian local heroine was allowed to compete in the main event and win.
Rhea Ripley star of the evening at WWE
The 27-year-old Ripley defeated heavyweight Nia Jax (cousin of superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) to defend her World Women’s Title. It also set up her next big match against Becky Lynch at the year’s highlight WrestleMania 40 – Lynch previously won the women’s no-escape match to secure her spot in the clash of two generations.
The powerful all-rounder Ripley had made her breakthrough in recent years as part of the Judgment Day grouping, where she has a congenial scripting partnership with Rey Mysterio’s son Dominik. Last year at WrestleMania 39, she won the then SmackDown Women’s Title against her former idol Charlotte Flair and still reigns as champion today.
In the run-up to the show, WWE executive “Triple H” Paul Levesque had ennobled Ripley by saying that he saw “no upper limit” for her in WWE.
Emotional jubilation with the family
In Perth, Ripley was now the crown jewel of the evening, the usually evil “heel” Ripley was the undisputed favorite this time, playing the cool underdog against the massive Jax this time, defying all odds.
WWE worked various allusions to former idols into the match story: “Mummy” Ripley quoted the late “Daddy” Eddie Guerrero with a Frog Splash and the preceding gesture and, to Jax’s shock, also freed himself from their ultimate maneuver, the Banzai Drop made famous by the now also deceased colossus Yokozuna.
In the end, Ripley lifted Jax to her own Riptide finisher to the cheers of the crowd, celebrating the triumph. Emotional cheers ensued with her parents sitting in the front row, her sister and – according to WWE – ten other family members in attendance.
MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY
OI OI OIWWEChamber pic.twitter.com/Cq3eLSQwzO– WWE (@WWE) February 24, 2024
It was a moment that Ripley will probably never forget – but hardly the last big strike in a career that should be good for many more highlights.
