In every era of WWE, there has been a “face” associated with that time period. Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, and although for much of his time fans disagreed, Roman Reigns has been the face of WWE for nearly a decade at this point. As the landscape changes and pro wrestling heads deeper into the Triple H era, or more accurately, The Renaissance Era, it is time for a new face to emerge. Her name…. Rhea Ripley.
In years past, WWE, namely Vince McMahon, made the mistake of trying to force-feed the fans the new Ace of the company. First with John Cena and then with Roman Reigns. While both of these Superstars eventually found footing, so much of their time was muddied with disdain or apathy from fans who felt like their voices were not being heard.
When it comes to Rhea Ripley, fans cannot ignore the connection she has with the audience. If she is on a show, her pop is the loudest. The crowd obviously loves the Australian Superstar, and they treat her like the star she is. Her intro, “This Is My Brutality” can be looked at in the same light as the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin glass shatter.
There has never been, and will never be, another Rhea Ripley. Fans have gotten to see her transformation as a performer happen in real-time. No longer the cookie-cutter babyface seen in the Mae Young Classic, Ripley has evolved into a megastar.
How did she do this? By embracing her originality. It doesn’t feel like she is playing a character. She is doing what every top star does, turning her own personality up to a thousand.
There is nothing about Rhea Ripley that feels forced or manufactured, she is the real deal, and people love her for it.
Ripley has a unique feel; she is relatable but also feels larger than life. You know you are in the presence of a star when she is in the arena, yet as a fan, you feel like she is one of us.
When it comes time to promote WrestleMania, Ripley has the perfect personality to show up on the late-night talk show circuit. She should be in the spots reserved for the best of the best.
To be the face of the company, a wrestler has to be able to deliver when it matters most. Ripley can do that without a doubt. She is the best female wrestler in the industry today. This may be seen as a hot take, but she is the best wrestler in the industry. Period.
Ripley’s resume speaks for itself. Her WrestleMania matches with Charlotte Flair proved there is no stage too big for her. Her feud with Liv Morgan showed that she can keep a program fresh while telling a compelling story.
Rhea Ripley does not have bad matches. She is a reliable performer who is capable of stealing the show every single time she is in the ring. When she wrestles, it’s impossible not to watch. That is the sign of a true top dog.
As someone who has been a wrestling fan my entire life, I have seen many Superstars come and go through WWE. None of them match the aura of Rhea Ripley. In fifteen to twenty years, we will be looking at Rhea Ripley as the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. In the meantime, it is time for her to take her place at the very top of the food chain.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
