When Rhea Ripley went bell to bell in the Royal Rumble, she earned her chance to pick her WrestleMania opponent – with Binaca Belair & Charlotte Flair as her options.
While she has history with Belair from their time together in NXT, the chance to redeem her loss to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 was too tempting.
Tonight, Ripley has a chance to show just how far she’s come in this company as she looks to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship for the very first time.
She has a chance to redeem the biggest loss in her career. Ripley can dethrone the 14 time WWE Women’s World Champion – and become the first to hold the NXT UK, NXT, RAW & Smackdown Women’s Championships in WWE.
There is history to be made, and few people can stop a determined Rhea Ripley at this stage of her career – and even Charlotte Flair would be wise to fear her.
There’s Only Room For One On The Throne In WWE
They’d soak in the moment as they paced the ring, not wasting movements as this match began. Flair would apply the headlock, and shoved Ripley off the ropes only to be dropped with a shoulder tackle.
Hip Toss from Flair would be blocked, but a shoulder tackle would drop Ripley before she was sent to the floor with a lariat.
Flair would keep the pressure on as Ripley returned to the ring, hitting a flying crossbody. Ripley would be able to forte back with some heavy strikes, before launching Flair face first into the turnbuckle.
Body Scissors would be applied to Flair, with Ripley moving into a rear mount before getting a forearm smash to the back of the neck.
Flair would be able to fight free from the hold and reached her feet, only to be tossed with a German Suplex. Ripley would take the spinning back elbow to the face, before Flair would hit some lariats in the middle of the ring.
A boot in the corner would drop Ripley, with Flair heading to the top rope. Ripley would yank her down and looked for Riptide – with Flair hitting a tight DDT for a near fall.
Rhea Ripley Eradicates The Queen Of WWE
Ripley would take an Exploder Suplex in the middle of the ring, being sent into the corner. Flair would head to the top rope, and Ripley took her down the hard way with a Release German Suplex from the top rope.
Flair faceplanted in the middle of the ring, but still refused to give up – kicking out at two.
Natural Selection would land from Flair, slipping behind Ripley – but getting the two count. Ripley would roll to the floor, and avoided a spear from Flair – sending her into the steel steps.
Flair would kick out when rolled into the ring, and managed some rolling German Suplexes – before taking another release suplex.
Big Boot from Flair would land, with Ripley sticking in this fight but rolling to the floor. Flair came off the top rope with the Corkscrew Moonsault.
Back in the ring, Ripley would manage a stiff headbutt and The Riptide – only for Flair to still kick out. Prism Lock would be applied – with Flair using the ropes to break free and nailed a spear – but just found another near fall.
Ripley & Flair traded forearm smashes in the middle of the ring – with the Figure Eight applied – with Ripley instantly getting the ropes. Flair would be smashed into the corner – and an Avalanche Riptide means NEW Smackdown Women’s Champion.
Who will be the first challenger of Rhea Ripley as champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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