On Monday, July 8, 2024, we saw the return of The Eradicator, The Menace, Mami aka Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley.
Why do so many fans care about the recently married and current Judgment Day member’s return? Is it because she’s the seventh WWE Women’s Triple Crown Champion? Is it because she’s the fifth Women’s Champion to have held the NXT UK Women’s Championship (inaugural champion), NXT Women’s Championship, RAW Women’s Championship, WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (with Nikki A.S.H.), and finally the 1st Women’s World Championship?
Is it because she’s the first female champion from Australia in the history of WWE? Is it because she’s the first woman to win last year’s Royal Rumble as the number one entrant? Is it because many see a SUPERSTAR in the making or is it because fans want her to dump “Dirty Dom’ and reclaim the title that she never lost from Liv Morgan?
I remember Rhea Ripley before she became Mami. She had memorable matches against Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair during their NXT run and shortly before the Covid pandemic in WWE, but the future Hall of Famer would be seemingly plagued with work visa issues until she wasn’t and shortly after, a darker version of Rhea would emerge.
Though she was winning matches and championships, there was still something missing.
Rhea Ripley would fully embrace her dark side at WWE Backlash on May 8, 2022, and join the original Judgment Day members, WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW Superstar, Edge, and current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, El Campeon, Damian Priest.
Many in the WWE Universe were wondering, who is this Rhea Ripley with the short jet-black hair, gothic makeup, muscles, and tattoos from head to toe and a menacing personality that has helped propel her to stardom. Her body and physical prowess are unmatched. Working out was and perhaps remains a way for her to stay focused on her career goals and not miss the life she left behind in Australia.
Though she carried them in her heart, Demi Bennett left her family and Australia, the only place she had ever known, to pursue her dreams of becoming a WWE Superstar. When she shared that she lost her beloved grandmother, it took me back to when I lost my mom and why I relocated from Virginia to the nation’s capital. When she maintained her championship earlier this year, at the Elimination Chamber, in Perth, Australia, she was able to perform in front of her family and was later surrounded by their love, admiration, and respect.
Why do I cheer for Mami? What moved me to purchase Black Moon cosmetics and wear some of her favorite shades? What helped me to feel more comfortable sometimes going out without makeup and wearing my hair short? What helped me to find alternate things to do when I started missing my mom? What helped me to feel more comfortable and confident in my skin? WHO would be the better question. All roads lead back to the 27-year-old Rhea Ripley.
As busy as she is, she appreciates her fans and she makes time for them by liking and reposting their tweets, including fan pics on her Instagram, and goes out of her way to connect with fans, even in the menacing character that is Rhea Ripley. The first time I saw her at Capital One Arena and screamed to the top of my lungs ‘We love you Rhea’, she whipped her head around with a quickness (Mami ears), locked eyes with me and offered a winning smile.
She is also supportive of her colleagues. Rhea always believed that her Terror Twin, Damian Priest was World Champion material. She attended the premiere of Bianca Belair’s HULU documentary Love & WWE: Bianca and Montez. What was surprisingly touching was during the ring introductions at last year’s WWE Backlash, her opponent, Zelina Vega, was clearly soaking in the love and support of her homeland of Puerto Rico. For a moment, Mami was moved to tears.
Rhea recently got married in her homeland to fellow Aussie Matthew Adams aka Buddy Matthews. They both love horror movies, they have three four legged friends, and they both have a love and talent for professional wrestling that has led them to the top factions within the two major wrestling promotions, WWE/Judgment Day and AEW/The House of Black.
What does the future hold for Demi Bennett aka Rhea Ripley? Anything she wants! Let the Rhea Ripley Revenge Tour begin!