While the early days of the WWF (now WWE) didn’t feature many women wrestlers, former showrunner Vince McMahon opened the show to powerhouse performers like Chyna and Trish Stratus. Since then, they’ve taken on a life of their own and provided a fast-paced, high-flying, and thrilling counterpart to their male colleagues. For example, a Rhea Ripley Lookalike Contest after Royal Rumble 2025 showcases this young performer’s rising star and popularity.
An Amusing Example of Ripley’s Rising Star
Rhea Ripley has dominated women’s wrestling almost since her debut on NXT UK in 2018. Her strikingly dark style makes her popular with a resurgent goth-like movement within the sport, while her athleticism, charisma, and strength inspire legions of girls to follow in her footsteps. That popularity recently spilled over into an amusing lookalike contest in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Held the same day as Royal Rumbler 2025, this competition lasted about three hours in downtown Indianapolis and greatly amused the competitor. While exploring the city before the competition, Ripley ran across a flyer advertising the event, took a picture, shared it on X (Twitter), and responded with skull and laughing emojis without any more explanation.
The competition advertised over “$300 in prizes” in categories like “Best Overall,” “Best Makeup,” and “Most Jacked.” Even though she’s actually not on the card for the event, Ripley was in town for media events or simply to check out the competition. However, she clearly has made an impression on Indianapolis fans, particularly those budding female competitors.
A Career Of Constant Successes
Anyone who’s followed Ripley’s career is probably not too shocked by her popularity. Jumping into the fledgling NXT and pushing her way into WWE dominance, Rhea Ripley brings Australian power, strength, and athleticism to a sport filled with great performers. She backs up her skills with the charisma of a superstar and only looks to move up in her career.
In fact, Ripley blazed her way through the first NXT UK Women’s Championship Tournament and defeated Toni Storm in an instant-classic Finals to become the first-ever champion of that league. After standing out in the 2019 Royal Rumble Match with her no-risk-no-reward style, she won the NXT Women’s Championship and continued her upward trajectory.
Finally, she won the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2023 at Wrestlemania 39 and has stayed on top of the wrestling world ever since. With an interview style that combines the best manic energy of The Macho Man with the dominant personality of only the best performers, Rhea Ripley’s devotion to the sport and her willingness to push herself have earned her many accolades.
What’s Next for Rhea?
When you’re already the world champion, where else can your career go? Could Rhea Ripley move into other realms, such as acting, singing, or even writing? She certainly has the style, class, and wit to thrive in just about anything she does. Or maybe she’ll stick to the sport and keep inspiring fans to follow in her footsteps. Don’t be surprised if a new wave of female wrestlers constantly calls out Ripley in the next generation of competitors!