WWE Women's World Champ Rhea Ripley Discusses Physical Transformation

Bursting onto the WWE scene as a reserved, long-haired blonde, Rhea Ripley was eager to please everyone around her. As a result, Ripley often shied away from surpassing what she perceived as the mold that WWE expected her to fit into. However, in 2018, the WWE Universe began to see a new version of Rhea Ripley blossoming before their very eyes. In addition to adopting a shorter jet-black hairstyle, Ripley also adopted punk-metal-inspired ring gears, complemented with spikes, studs, and fresh tattoo ink.

During a recent interview with "BWGS Pod," Ripley opened up about her dramatic transformation, crediting former WWE star Ruby Riott (aka Ruby Soho) as one of the inspirations behind it. "[I signed to WWE at] a time when females weren't big and bulky, they didn't have tattoos. They all had the long hair and I'm glad for someone like – I don't actually give her enough credit, but Ruby Riott, she was the first one that I really looked at and was like, 'Wow, she's covered in tattoos. She's got short hair, she looks super cool.' I remember tagging with her quite a few times on the [NXT] coconut shows, which were like non-televised shows. She helped me just bring out that side of me that was me," Ripley said.

Before putting her physical metamorphosis into motion, Ripley also noted that she had a serious self-reflection session, in which she encouraged herself to stop being "fake," and finally embrace her authentic self.

"I hate fake people, and I was one," Ripley said. "I was like, 'Just don't care what anyone thinks about you. If they don't like you, they don't deserve to be in your life.”'

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "BWGS Pod" with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.