Rhea Ripley has made more pro wrestling history, becoming the first Australian to win the WWE’s most famous match, the Royal Rumble.
The Adelaide-born star, 26, also became the first woman to enter at No.1 and go the whole way, outlasting the other 29 other entrants to win the over-the-top-rope battle royal.
The win means Ripley will challenge for one of the two WWE women’s championships at the biggest show of the year, WrestleMania, which this year will hold its 39th edition at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
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Ripley has been a trailblazer for Aussie wrestling, not just winning championships in WWE but becoming one of the company’s biggest women’s stars.
Two years ago she successfully challenged Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37, just weeks after making her debut on the main roster following a successful stint in the NXT developmental brand.
Over the past eight months she has grown her profile again as part of the new Judgment Day faction, in something of a dominating role that has included her wrestling against men and controlling Dominik Mysterio, the son of legendary luchador Rey.
Ripley was one of three Australians in the women’s Royal Rumble, along with Melbourne-born pair Emma and Indi Hartwell, while Nia Jax (who was born in Sydney) also featured, plus Kiwi Dakota Kai.
They are some of a number of Aussies featuring in the world’s biggest pro wrestling company right now, along with Sydney’s Grayson Waller main eventing the NXT promotion and challenging for the NXT Championship in the coming weeks, plus Adelaide-born pair Bronson Reed (recently returning from a strong stint in Japan) and Duke Hudson, and Xyon Quinn (aka ex-NRL player Daniel Vidot).
Earlier in the show Cody Rhodes returned and won the men’s Royal Rumble.