Rhea Ripley’s Struggling with Self-Hatred During Her Time in WWE

Rhea Ripley is now one of the top stars in all of WWE and it was a long and arduous task for her to reach the top. She went through numerous changes during her time in WWE and now it appears that Rhea Ripley has opened up about hating herself in the company.

The Eradicator started off her career in NXT UK, becoming the women’s champion there before finding success in NXT. Her main roster run so far has seen her win the Smackdown Women’s Championship, RAW Women’s Championship as well as the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.

While speaking on Corey Graves’ After The Bell podcast, Rhea Ripley talked about her time in WWE. Ripley went into detail regarding the evolution of her character in WWE, right from the beginning.

“So I was really scared and shy and timid when I first started here in the WWE. I remember growing up watching WWE, there was never really women that were heavily tattooed except Lita.” recalled Rhea Ripley, “She was the only one really. But when I was growing up, there was pretty much no one when I was watching it. So I thought I couldn’t get hired unless I didn’t have tattoos pretty much. So that’s why I didn’t have the tattoos. I didn’t look the way that [I wanted].”

Advertising

Advertising

Rhea Ripley then noted how in the start she was trying to keep everyone happy and not cause trouble. This took a toll on her in a big way, as Ripley even started hating herself in WWE.

“I just wanted to get hired so bad I was like, holding off on everything and just hoping for the best. I always did what I was told. I just wanted to make people happy. I wanted to do my job the right way and just not push anyone’s buttons pretty much. That’s the Rhea Ripley you saw in the first Mae Young.

I was just a young 20-year-old trying to make it in life pretty much. Between like the first Mae Young and the second Mae Young. I went through a lot of crap. At work and at home. My relationship was really rocky, I missed home. I was incredibly homesick.

I didn’t feel like I belonged. I didn’t like that and I was starting to hate myself for it. I just felt uncomfortable in my own skin to the point that I just had to throw everything that I thought was right, away. I was like, ‘You know what? I’m sick of this.’ I’m just gonna be myself. if it doesn’t work, at least, I went out being myself. I don’t care anymore. Like I don’t care what people’s opinions are of me. I’m just going to do my own thing.”

Rhea Ripley also eviscerated a fan who told her to go home and leave WWE after she suffered a tragic loss. Regardless, things are certainly better for Ripley now and she couldn’t be more grateful for it.

What’s your take on what Rhea Ripley said? Are you glad for her growth? Sound off in the comments!