WWE Allegedly Punished Rhea Ripley for Going Against Orders at WrestleMania 39

Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley were engaged in a heated feud last year which culminated in an excellent match at WrestleMania 39. However, it appears WWE allegedly punished Ripley for going against their orders at WrestleMania 39.

Charlotte Flair defended her Smackdown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39 Saturday. There was a lot of anticipation for the match, as both competitors had proved their worth in the ring. Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in what was an incredible match-up at WrestleMania 39. 

In her autobiography Our Fight, Ronda Rousey discussed the WrestleMania incident where Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair went over their allotted time by 20 minutes Despite criticism from some backstage, who felt it was disrespectful to the men’s tag title match that was scheduled to follow, Rousey admired Ripley and Flair for ignoring instructions to wrap up and continuing their match.

”The night before at WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley and Charlotte went over their allotted time by TWENTY minutes, putting on arguably the best match of the weekend-long event. There were some murmurs backstage that it was disrespectful of the main event, a men’s tag title match, but I thought it was badass that they took the time to tell their story to the fullest and stole the show.

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When they were told to wrap it up so the men after them could perform in front of a fresher crowd, Charlotte and Rhea just kept going like the bosses they were. Instead of running backstage when ordered to do so, they took a stand. I admired them for putting their collective foot down.”

However, Rousey pointed out that this defiance had consequences as she claimed WWE punished Ripley. After Ripley won the title, despite being one of the most popular women in WWE, she only defended her title twice in over five months. Instead, she primarily accompanied the Judgment Day to the ring like a 1990s valet, rather than focusing on her wrestling career.

”But their act of defiance wouldn’t be without repercussions. After Rhea won the title, despite being the most over (fan-favorite) woman in the company, she was only allowed to defend her title twice in over five months. Instead, she spent most of her time escorting the men in her faction, Judgement Day, to and from the ring like a 1990s valet, instead of wrestling herself.

The message to the women was clear: if you take time from the men—even if you’re the hottest name in the company—the company will make sure to take even more time from you.”

Rhea Ripley also addressed the lackluster build to her match with Charlotte Flair last year. Nevertheless, both Ripley and Flair are out of action due to injury, so we’ll have to wait and see when they will return.

Are you surprised by what Ronda Rousey had to say about Rhea Ripley? Let us know in the comments section below!