Why Rhea Ripley’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up Confused Vince McMahon
Rhea Ripley’s transition to the main roster was not as smooth as expected.
The former women’s champion revealed that her call-up from WWE NXT left then-Chairman Vince McMahon confused.
Ripley experienced tremendous success within a short period during her time on the black and gold brand.
Post-debuting in 2017, she won the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s Championship by 2019.
She made her main roster debut on March 22, 2021.
During her appearance on the recent Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Rhea RIpley recalled McMahon feeling confused about her position as a heel or babyface.
I was on NXT UK, and I was that force that came from the second Mae Young Classic, and then that kind of transferred onto NXT, but in a babyface sort of manner, which was a little bit different, but kind of the same.
And then as soon as I came to the main roster, it was in COVID. So Vince didn’t know what to do with me. He didn’t know if I was face or heel. And he’s like, “Well, she looks like a heel.” And everyone was like, “You don’t understand, she’s a babyface. People actually like it.” He’s like, “Nah, she’s a heel.”
She expressed how the feeling of confusion prevailed until she was paired with Dominik Mysterio, allowing her to evolve into something different.
Rhea Ripley’s Struggle With Success
Rhea Ripley is one of the biggest names in sports entertainment, with a legion of fans glued to every move she makes.
On the podcast, she admitted to struggling with success, sometimes forgetting who she is.
I’m walking around and I’m like why are these people looking at me? Do I look like a 13-year-old boy? Just staring at me because I look stupid, what is wrong with me right now?
And I get mad. I’m like, look away. Take a photo. It’ll last longer. And then I’m like oh sh*t. They probably know who I am. I just get mad sometimes. I just forget that I’m known.
Ripley heads to Saudi Arabia for her next match against Raquel Rodriguez in a Street Fight at Night of Champions.