On The Grandest Stage of Them All, with one of sports-entertainment’s top prizes at stake, Rhea Ripley was ready for Asuka.
Succeeding where a long list of Superstars before her had failed, the 24-year-old Australian powerhouse, in only her second match as an official member of the Raw roster, ended The Empress of Tomorrow’s incredible 230-day tenure as Raw Women’s Champion at WrestleMania.
The historic feat was anything but easy. Asuka was the aggressor at the outset, frustrating Ripley as she stayed one step ahead of her challenger and unleashed her signature offense. Whenever Ripley got hold of the champion, however, she made it count, not only grinding down Asuka with her brand of brutality, but even daring to trash-talk and slap her — an unthinkable act in the face of a world-beater like The Empress.
The Empress of Tomorrow looks to end The Nightmare with a devastating DDT off the apron. Highlight presented by Nissin Cup Noodles. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.
Ripley’s boldness teetered on overconfidence and nearly cost her on several occasions. Asuka scored with a potent DDT off the ring apron onto the floor and repeatedly trapped The Nightmare in submission holds. Even then, Ripley proved to be too powerful to contain, forcing the champion to switch up her game plan and wallop The Nightmare with precision strikes. Shockingly, Ripley absorbed the hits and waved on Asuka, as if to ask for more.
Happy to oblige, if not bewildered by Ripley’s brashness, The Empress uncorked a lightning-fast head kick, but Ripley dodged it and quickly splattered Asuka on the mat with the Riptide to score the three-count and win the Raw Women’s Title, adding to a resume that already includes past reigns as the NXT and NXT UK Women’s Champion.
If WrestleMania truly is the place that heroes are created and legends are born, then April 11, 2021, will go down in the record books as the day that The Nightmare made the jump from can’t-miss prodigy to veritable legend-in the-making.
On The Grandest Stage of Them All, with one of sports-entertainment’s top prizes at stake, Rhea Ripley was ready for Asuka.
Succeeding where a long list of Superstars before her had failed, the 24-year-old Australian powerhouse, in only her second match as an official member of the Raw roster, ended The Empress of Tomorrow’s incredible 230-day tenure as Raw Women’s Champion at WrestleMania.
The historic feat was anything but easy. Asuka was the aggressor at the outset, frustrating Ripley as she stayed one step ahead of her challenger and unleashed her signature offense. Whenever Ripley got hold of the champion, however, she made it count, not only grinding down Asuka with her brand of brutality, but even daring to trash-talk and slap her — an unthinkable act in the face of a world-beater like The Empress.
The Empress of Tomorrow looks to end The Nightmare with a devastating DDT off the apron. Highlight presented by Nissin Cup Noodles. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.
Ripley’s boldness teetered on overconfidence and nearly cost her on several occasions. Asuka scored with a potent DDT off the ring apron onto the floor and repeatedly trapped The Nightmare in submission holds. Even then, Ripley proved to be too powerful to contain, forcing the champion to switch up her game plan and wallop The Nightmare with precision strikes. Shockingly, Ripley absorbed the hits and waved on Asuka, as if to ask for more.
Happy to oblige, if not bewildered by Ripley’s brashness, The Empress uncorked a lightning-fast head kick, but Ripley dodged it and quickly splattered Asuka on the mat with the Riptide to score the three-count and win the Raw Women’s Title, adding to a resume that already includes past reigns as the NXT and NXT UK Women’s Champion.
If WrestleMania truly is the place that heroes are created and legends are born, then April 11, 2021, will go down in the record books as the day that The Nightmare made the jump from can’t-miss prodigy to veritable legend-in the-making.
