Rhea Ripley Defends WrestleMania 41 Match Against Backlash: “I’m Not Overlooking IYO SKY”
Rhea Ripley, the Australian-born wrestler, has spoken out about her upcoming Women’s World Championship match against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41. In an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated, Ripley addressed the negative feedback surrounding her storyline with Belair and SKY, dismissing claims that she is overlooking the former NXT superstar.
The Eradicator, who has competed at every WrestleMania since 2019, will be making her fifth appearance at the Showcase of the Immortals. Her match against Belair and SKY has garnered significant attention, with many hailing it as a dream match between three of the biggest female stars in WWE. However, not everyone has been pleased with the path WWE has taken to get to this point.
According to Sports Illustrated, Ripley expressed her frustration with the criticism, stating, “I don’t want to say we’re overlooking IYO, because we’re not. We know that she’s a threat. We know what she’s capable of. Hell, I’ve never beat her in a one-on-one competition. I know exactly what IYO brings to the table.” Ripley also emphasised that her focus has been on Belair, with whom she has had a long-standing rivalry.
Ripley’s comments come after a tumultuous few weeks, which saw her lose her Women’s World Championship to SKY on Raw. The loss was precipitated by Belair’s presence at ringside, where she was seen cheering on SKY. Ripley felt betrayed by Belair’s actions, stating, “Seeing Bianca do that, obviously it hit me in a part of my emotions that have been hurt before by a lot of people, so I acted out.” The incident has added fuel to the fire ahead of their highly anticipated match at WrestleMania 41.
As Sports Illustrated reports, Ripley and Belair have simultaneously achieved great success since joining the main roster. Both women have won Royal Rumble matches, competed in high-profile matches at WrestleMania, and even graced the cover of the WWE 2K24 video game. Ripley noted that she and Belair have been “on opposite brands, but still kind of in line with each other and taking over and being the faces of those brands and the women’s divisions.”
The addition of SKY to the match has raised eyebrows, with some questioning the decision to include a third competitor. However, Ripley believes that the match will be a great spectacle, stating, “Literally, three of the biggest female stars here in WWE are going to go to war. And it’s just going to mesh really, really well.” WrestleMania 41 takes place on April 19 and 20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with a stacked card that includes Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship and Jey Uso vs. Gunther for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, Ripley’s determination to face Belair at WrestleMania has been years in the making. The two women have a long history, with Ripley stating, “We’ve wanted to face each other at WrestleMania… We’ve wanted it to be a one-on-one thing.” With the stage set for a thrilling encounter, Ripley is focused on putting on a show for the fans, while also settling her score with Belair.
In conclusion, Rhea Ripley’s upcoming match against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41 has generated significant buzz. As Sports Illustrated reports, Ripley has addressed the criticism surrounding her storyline, emphasising her respect for SKY and her determination to face Belair. With the match shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year, fans will be eagerly anticipating the action from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The reported comments from Rhea Ripley have been sourced directly from an interview with Sports Illustrated.
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