WWE's Rhea Ripley reveals how her WrestleMania 39 snub felt in the moment (2024)

Ripley had something to prove.

When Rhea Ripley outlasted the field and won the 2023 Royal Rumble, it left fans with one obvious conclusion: Mami was going to main event Night 1 of WrestleMania 39.

On paper, the assumption made sense, right? Since WrestleMania expanded to two nights instead of a one-day tour de force, female performers have always had a strong presence at the top of the card, with Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey blowing their way through that glass ceiling and the Women's Royal Rumble providing a pathway to the top spot.

And yet, when push came to shove, Ripley found herself with very strong competition for the top spot on Night 1, with the dramatic culmination of the Sami Zayn portion of The Bloodline story competing with the “Eradicator's” shot at Charlotte Flair's gold.

Which side would Paul “Triple H” Levesque choose? Would he stick within the strict wording of the rules, or would he use the term “main event” more liberally, opting to instead give the nod to Zayn, Kevin Owen, and The Usos, Jimmy and Jey?

Well, as it turned out, Levesque went with the hot hand and gave the nod to KO and Sami versus The Usos, and, in an interview with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Ripley revealed that this obviously didn't feel too good in the moment, as she did everything right and was still left without the award she'd earned.

“Yeah. I mean, obviously I understand why we weren't the main event. I do. I have to give it to the guys. They had a very compelling story going into WrestleMania to the point that Mami was interested, and Mami wanted to see who was gonna come up victorious,” Rhea Ripley told Fightful. “But, obviously, being the Royal Rumble winner, I wanted that main event spot so extremely bad. So going out there as the semi-main, I did have a point to prove. I wanted to show everyone that we could have main evented if given the opportunity to have a proper build to WrestleMania. So I understand. I completely understand. No hate to the boys, but was a little bit jealous.”

Fortunately for Ripley, her match with Flair did not disappoint at WrestleMania 39, delivering the best female effort of the entire weekend and one of the highlight matches of the stronger day of the SoFi Arena-based “Showcase of the Immortals.” While she once again appears unlikely to land a main event spot at WrestleMania 40, as Bayley has first dibs against IYO SKY in the women's division and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may politic his way into a main event spot via a tag team match with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Cody Rhodes, in the end, Mami has established herself as a legit main eventer and in the end, her moment in the sun will come as a result.

Damian Priest reveals how Rhea Ripley got her nickname.

On a lighter note within The Bloodline world, Damian Priest revealed to fans how Rhea Ripley landed her now signature ‘Mami' moniker, which famously transformed from a joke against the Mysterio family into a legitimately vital part of her character.

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“Obviously, when Dom [Mysterio] started, when he joined the Judgment Day, she was kind of his boss in a way. We were doing all the talking about Eddie [Guerrero] and whatnot, and it was like, ‘You should start calling yourself Papi.' So that was the first idea, but obviously, that's Eddie Guerrero,” Damian Priest explained to Inside The Ropes via EWrestling News.

“So it was like, well, we can't really just do that because that's his thing, and that's completely being somebody else. So I was like, ‘Easy fix – Mami.' We had the Mamacita [in Chyna], but not Mami. I pitched it, and I think she said it one time or something, and it took off. There was signs everywhere [saying] ‘Mami, Mami, Mami.' So, it's cool.”

Would Ripley be as over without Mami? Probably, as she is the most dominant female performer in recent memory, with just three total losses in 2023 and 2024 combined. Still, in professional wrestling, like in life, marketing is key, and securing a simple, big, bold moniker that fans can slap on signs and WWE can slap on merchandise is a big way to prove a performer's popularity and persuade creativity that they deserve an even more profound push moving forward. At this stage of the game, Rhea Ripley is Mami, and even if she somehow breaks up with “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio in the split-up of the WWE century, it's more than likely the moniker will remain firmly hers.

WWE's Rhea Ripley reveals how her WrestleMania 39 snub felt in the moment (2024)

FAQs

How much does Rhea Ripley make? ›

Rhea Ripley's primary source of income is her WWE contract, which includes a reported base salary of $250,000 annually. Her earnings extend beyond her base salary, encompassing revenue from merchandise sales, pay-per-view appearances, sponsorships, deals with WWE Shop, and appearances in WWE 2K games.

Who is Rhea Ripley in a relationship with? ›

The Eradicator may be Dirty Dom's Mami, but she has been with AEW star Buddy Matthews since 2022. The Australian grapplers have been engaged to be married since last summer, and while no date has been announced, Ripley recently provided an update on the wedding.

Does Rhea Ripley have a kid? ›

Still young, and focused on her wrestling career, Ripley is currently unmarried and doesn't have children. She has been in a relationship with another professional wrestler before she started to date Buddy Matthews, though. That was when she shared her life with fellow professional wrestler, Demetri Jackson.

Who is the highest paid female wrestler in WWE in 2024? ›

Becky Lynch emerges as the highest-paid female wrestler in the WWE in 2024, with a notable base salary of $3 million. What is this? Her marketability, in-ring performances, and the WWE's emphasis on the women's division have all contributed to her standing as a top-earning female superstar.

Who is the richest wrestler in WWE in 2024? ›

The richest wrestler in the world in 2024 is none other than WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. Vince McMahon currently has an estimated net worth of $3.2 Billion, making him the richest person in the Wrestling industry.

Who is Roman Reigns' real wife? ›

Who is Rey's wife? ›

Who did Rey Mysterio marry? ›

Who impregnated Ripley? ›

Some viewers speculate that this "super facehugger" carried both a Queen and a normal Alien embryo, so it impregnated the ox/dog and Ripley. But due to re-shoots, only a normal facehugger was seen in the Theatrical Version.

How did Ripley have a baby? ›

Upon her reunion with Ripley 8 (now exhibiting Xenomorph traits) the Queen had moved past the egg laying stage and developed a massive womb, Ripley's genetic "gift", according to the maddened Dr. Gediman. The Newborn emerges from the womb, the Queen's first live birth.

Did Ripley have a daughter? ›

In Alien: Isolation (2014)

In 2014, Weaver reprised her role as Ripley for the first time in 17 years for a voice cameo in the video game Alien: Isolation, centered on Ripley's daughter Amanda, and more extensively in its two DLCs set during the events of Alien.

Does Rhea Ripley have a spouse? ›

Rhea Ripley is not married, but will be soon! While many are aware of her on-screen romance with fellow superstar Dominik Mysterio, she is engaged to former WWE and current AEW star Buddy Matthews (FKA Buddy Murphy).

Why did Rhea Ripley get tattoos? ›

Rhea Ripley has 20 tattoos, and all have meaning

These range from personal ones to tributes to the things she loves. Ripley's body is her canvas and, at times, a book of her personality. Ripley has said that she wanted tattoos ever since she was a kid.

How much does Rhea Ripley make in 2024? ›

As per several reports, the WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley has an estimated net worth of $1 Million as of 2024. Her contract with WWE gets her $250,000 every year. Additional income sources such as merchandise sales and pay-per-view appearances have a significant impact on her salary as well.

Who is the highest paid WWE wrestler? ›

Highest Paid WWE Wrestler in 2024

Brock Lesnar, with his $12 Million, currently leads the way when it comes to WWE salaries, as 'The Beast Incarnate' bags huge bonuses for every main event appearance and also earns the biggest amount of base salary.

How much does Rey Mysterio get paid? ›

Rey Mysterio's financial success is a testament to his enduring legacy as a wrestling icon. With a net worth of $10 million and a reported annual salary of $174,000, Mysterio continues to thrive in the world of professional wrestling, leveraging his popularity to secure lucrative endorsements and merchandise sales.

How much does Nia Jax make a year? ›

As per various reports, Nia Jax draws an annual salary of at least $100,000 from WWE. This was the figure she earned before being released by WWE in 2021. Her current salary is not known to public. Also Read: Who all are in the family of Nia Jax?

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