In the world of professional wrestling, Rhea Ripley stands out as a force to be reckoned with inside the ring.
However, her presence on social media sometimes reveals a different side of her character.
Despite portraying a heel persona, Ripley has shown moments of kindness and support, such as when she defended fellow WWE wrestler Maxxine Dupri from online criticism.
During a discussion on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Legion of RAW, former WWE head writer Vince Russo shared his observations on Ripley’s behavior on social media.
Russo suggested that Ripley’s desire to be liked often leads her to break character.
“We already saw Rhea Ripley on social media went to bat for the Dupri girl. Why is she doing that? I look at some of her social media and it is clear this is a woman who wants to be liked. That’s why she went to bat for another wrestler. She completely disregarded her character.”
Russo then delved into how WWE Chairman Vince McMahon might handle such a situation with Ripley.
According to Russo, McMahon would likely emphasize the importance of Ripley embracing her heel persona to maximize her success.
“This is what Vince would do. Vince would pull her aside and make it this simple. He’d say to her: ‘do you wanna be liked or do you wanna make money?’ And he would explain to her that now is the time for you to be a heel. The bigger heel that you are, the bigger babyface you will become. He would lay it out for her that simply.”
Despite occasional departures from her character on social media, Ripley continues to garner strong reactions from fans, showcasing her ability to maintain their support even while portraying a villainous role.
As she engages in a feud with Becky Lynch, Ripley’s presence in the wrestling world remains formidable, capturing the attention of audiences both inside and outside the ring.
