Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Rhea Ripley: Mami Is ALWAYS On Top, Dirty Dom, Crazy Fans, Fav WrestleMania Moment, Buddy Matthews

Episode Date: June 26, 2025

https://cvvtix.com - Get your tickets for INSIGHT LIVE in NYC with VIP Meet & Greet! Rhea Ripley (@RheaRipley_WWE) is a professional wrestler currently signed with WWE. She sits down with Chris Van Vliet to discuss her rise in WWE, working with Dominik Mysterio and being called "Mami", intergender spots and being compared to Chyna, her favorite WrestleMania moment, her viral stinkface spot with Nia Jax at a house show, an unwanted fan visit to her house, how she came up with the Riptide as her finisher, overcoming anxiety, her husband Buddy Matthews and more!   Quote I'm thinking about: “The more you practice the art of gratitude, the more you have to be grateful for.” Norman Vincent Peale   Please support our sponsors!   PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/?ref=tibcloux  SEAT GEEK: Use my code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/CVV Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup!  TIMELINE: Go to https://timeline.com/insightto get 10% off your order of Mitopure!   VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv   ROCKET MONEY: Download the Rocket Money app and enter “Insight With Chris Van Vliet” in the survey   HUEL: Get 15% off plus a FREE Gift for NEW customers with the code INSIGHT at https://huel.comMIRACLE MADE: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://trymiracle.com/CVV and use the code CVV to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF   ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight   BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv   BLUECHEW: Get your first month of BlueChew for free with the code CVV at https://bluechew.com   PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at https://plunge.com   For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.    Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Fleet. Welcome back, my friends, to another one here on Inside. I'm CVV. Chris Van Fleet, what an intro there by Downstate. That song just gets stuck in my head all the time. Thank you for being with us on this one, and thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on the planet. Hit a rip tide on that follow button wherever you're listening right now.

And if it's not too much to ask, if you haven't done so already, could you leave a rating on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts? Because the bigger the show gets, the bigger the guests can get. And we've got a massive episode today with the one and only Ria Ripley. I mean, you already know how good she is in the ring. But if you didn't know, she is hilarious. Like, there were so many times during this interview where I was bursting out like uncontrollably laughing. She's just so talented, so down to earth, and she deserves all of the success that she's had. And there is just so much more to come. She hasn't even turned 30 yet.

Also, happy first wedding anniversary to her and Buddy Matthews. We recorded this just a few days before their anniversary. We recorded this in New York City during Fanatics Fest weekend. My goodness, what an event that was. But we cover so much during this episode, from training in Australia to wanting to be in the next terrifier movie, that would be Terrifier 4, she opens up about crying before her first WWE match because she felt so overwhelmed and says she still deals with nerves and anxiety now, even at the level that she's still at. I love this conversation. I think it's my favorite

of 2025 so far, and I hope that you love this as much as I did. Snap a screenshot and let us know that you're listening. Let us know what really stood out for you and tag us. She's at Ria Ripley, underscore WWE on Instagram and X. I'm at Chris Van Vleet. Ladies and gentlemen, here we go. Please welcome the one and only, Ria Ripley. Well, thank you for finally making this happen.

Thanks for waiting for me to be free. Oh, I mean, you were very busy. Yeah, yeah. It's crazy. We had your husband on, and that was a blast. You spent about 93% of the interviews talking about you. I know. I watched it while I was doing.

cardio and I was like, wow, this guy is just not saying anything about work at all, just talking about our marriage pretty much. I'll take it. We would talk about other things and he'd be like, but you know what I really like about my wife? Literally. So I feel like we'll have to do the same, just talk the entire time about buddy. That's fine. I mean, he might not like what I have to say. I'm joking. He's the best. It's so fun seeing you interact with fans as like, you create this moment for them, right? Who was that person for you when you were growing up? Oh, oh, you know, I didn't really get to meet too many, like, real famous people growing up. And, like, when WWE came to Australia, they were always so, like, tired, which I understand. It's a long flight. I get that now. As a

kid, I didn't understand. So, like, it was hard to really, like, get excited because they were all just so sleep deprived. They just wanted to get through the airport, get to the next show. Adelaide's small players. So, like, I didn't really have that moment until I started going to, like, Right City Wrestling. And that's where I started wrestling. And I, just meeting, like, Chris Bassow, Matt Bassow, Brad Smith, like, all the wrestlers that were on that show, they're the ones that I got really, like, giddy over and really excited over. And they'd all come out after the show had done, and they'd go around the ring, all the baby faces, and they'd sign photos and hug babies, high-five children, and all that jazz. And that was a lot. And that was,

like my time to shine. I was like, I love these people. And then did it remind you of like, all right, if I ever get in that spot one day, I want to make people feel like this? Yeah, for sure. Like, that was a really special thing for me. And I remember like, just going home after those shows and like being so hyped up and excited and just going straight to mom and telling her everything that happened, being like, oh my God, Jonah rocks spat his chewy gum at me, which is now Bronson back in the day. I used to watch him wrestle at Wright City. And like, I'd go and I'd go and tell her whatever happened, I'd just be like beaming and just so excited. And for me to be able to do that for people now, like, it just, it makes my day.

And that's why I really do love like the house shows and stuff because we get to connect more with the fans and give them little memories because that's what wrestling is. And that's what meeting like your idols is and all of that. So they're the moments that I really loved growing up. I didn't really get that too much with anything else. But Riot City Wrestling was my thing, you know. Who's the famous person now that you're in the spot, you're in now that you've been so excited to meet? I think everyone knows who it is. David, good old Art the Clown, you know?

I want to meet him so bad. I want to meet him so bad. And I'm just like waiting for that day. I've been trying to get him to shows to come watch WWE. And it's just like our schedules just don't line up. but one day I will meet him and I hope that I'm not too annoying. I really hope I'm not too annoying. I hope that I love my fans.

I love my fans, but I really hope that they haven't staled my name to him because he's probably heard it over and over again. Like, do you know Ria Ripley? He's like, yes, I know Rirapley. So I'm excited to meet him one day. It needs to happen. It needs to happen.

And we need to get you in a terrifier film. Oh, I would love that. I want to be in Terrifier 3 so badly. Okay. And it's the last one. Like, Damien said that this is going to be like the last one. Well, you've put it out there now. So I...

Like, would you be okay with any role in it? Yeah. Kill me. Kill me. I don't care. I think that's actually... If you're going to be in a horror film, that's kind of the goal. Literally.

Literally. And sorry, it's Terrify 4. My bad. I got excited. Terrify 3 is the Christmas one. and it's the best. I actually really like Terrify 3.

I think that's my favorite one out of all of them. And seeing art dressed as Santa Claus is terrifying, but amazing at the same time. But I want to be a part of it. Kill me,

please. Like, I've tried to pitch things today and I'm like, have like a gym scene where like me and Matt are like working out and then art just like stumbles in and starts killing us with like weight plates or something. I love it.

I want to die. you know. Within the context of the film. Yes, in context. Who do you think it's objectively, objectively in better shape? You or your husband. I mean, I'm going to say him because look at the man. I mean, come on.

I'm just, at this point, I'm just skinny. I'm at this stage where, like, I don't know what's happening. I just, I'm not eating enough and I'm just skinny where he is like so, like, bulky, but in a good way. He's just such a mammoth man. He looks like an action figure. Like he's any wrestling promoters dream. Like he just looks like a straight up action figure out of any like action movie. He could be Rambo for all I know, the ginger rambo. He's so wide. You know, he's massive. Ginger Rambo. I don't know how hiding in the greenery would be very good for him, but like it'd be ginger rambo. He's just so wide. He is. He's a big boy. Like you don't

don't know how big he is until you stand next to him. I feel the same way about you, though. Really? Oh, yeah. Oh, man. See, I get the opposite all the time. What? People are always like, you're a lot smaller in person.

Or people be like, my God, you look like this one girl from WWE. Her name is Ria Ripley. And I go, well, you never know. And they go, nah, you're too small. She's way bigger. And I'm just like, wow, wow. My heart. I'm trying, guys.

Is it because you don't know the makeup? on? I think it's the makeup and I like to wear baggy clothes too so that like hides my shoulders a little bit but like I don't know. I look at myself as like a smaller individual and I'm that's the same. What? I don't know. I don't know. You're larger than life. I know but I don't I don't see that. I feel like wrestling's so like bad for me in that way because like we see ourselves on TV week in and week out. And like, for me, I'm someone that, like, always strives to be better and to do better and look better.

And I just, I want to perfect myself, but there is no perfecting yourself. And that's what I have to try and remind myself. And Matt's exactly the same. He's always like, oh, I'm small. I look flat. I'm fat. I'm like, bro, you're, like, the most physically fit individual here. Like, in this gym, you stand.

over everyone. He's like, nah, nah, nah, I'm fat. I wish that he could listen to himself and then vice versa. He wishes that I could listen to myself. When you watch yourself on TV, you know, in the gear and in the makeup, do you see you? I do. I do. I feel very comfortable in that gear and in that makeup. I feel like that is me. I'm like going out there and I'm being me. Every now and then, though, like I do see pictures of myself or like a little clip and I'm like, yo, she's sedentiful. I don't know where she came from, but like she's hidden down there deep, you know, like just the person that comes out of me when I want to prove a point and the person that's inside of me that I can't show in everyday life, I guess sort of comes out.

Like I got some photos from the last raw where I pulled out Raquel from her match. And I was looking through the photos and I was like, I don't even know I could do that with my face. I look like I'm shape shifting into a demon, like straight up shapeshifting. It's just crazy. Did you always think this was possible growing up? Honestly, no. No.

I always talk about my right city wrestling tri-out, and it's funny because my coach, he went around the room after the triad and was like, where do you want to go in wrestling? He asked everyone in the tryout, and everyone said, I want to make it to WWE. and he straight up like got sick of that answer. He's like, I don't want to like break your heart or like ruin your dreams, but like that's probably not going to happen. Like we're in Australia. We're very, very far away.

WWE doesn't really come here. So making it to WWE is going to be extremely difficult and probably won't happen. So for me, I was a little bit realistic about that and I was like, I just love wrestling. I find it fun. I find it entertaining. I like going out there and entertaining a crowd and showing people that they can do whatever they want to do,

especially a female in such a male dominated sport. Like I liked that challenge. I've always been someone that likes a challenge. But I never thought that I would be able to make it as far as I've come. And even by the time that I did get signed and I moved to America and I started an NXT, I never thought that the name Rearrably would be as big as it is now. And it's just wild to see, like,

especially the last couple years, how much I've blown up. I forget who I am. Sometimes. It's like, I'm walking around. I'm like, why are these people looking at me? Why do I look like a 13-year-old boy? Like, are they just staring at me because I look stupid? Like, what is wrong with me right now?

Like, is my hair, like, staticking to my face or something? Like, why are they looking at me? And I get mad. I'm like, look away. Take a photo. It will last longer. And then I'm like, oh, oh, shit. They probably know who I have.

I just get so mad sometimes. And I'm like, I just, I don't know. Just because they're staring at you? Yeah, I just forget that, like, I'm known. And it's not even, like, if I knew that they knew who I was, like, I wouldn't feel bad about it. Like, I'd be like, oh, like, you want a photo? I'd be really nice, but it's just like, I forget that I'm Ria Ripley sometimes. I'm just like, I don't know.

What's the meaning behind the name, Ria Rippley? Ria Rippley. So when I first started, they asked me for five combinations of names. And I went through trying to find, or trying to make combinations of names that I, liked from like either band members or like just strong women in general. Or were you going by before? Demi Bennett, which is my name. Yeah.

Yeah. I don't know why they just didn't want to change my name. They're like, yeah, Demi Bennett's good. It's a good wrestler name. It's really not. Okay. So, hey, I'm glad because some people have three, four wrestling names and I'm glad that I just have two.

And one of them's your real name. Exactly. So it's a lot easier. So you only have one wrestling name, really. Exactly. And like now people know what to call me. at work instead of having like six different names and you're like, oh God, which one is it today? Which one am I going to call this person?

What do I normally call this person? So what was on the list? What were the six combinations? So, oh man, this is a long time ago. I know that I had was a, I like, I really like the name Ila. I love the name Ila. And that was one that like I didn't actually pull from anything. But it went with, it was Ila Radke.

because at that time I really loved falling in reverse and Ronnie Radkees, the main singer so I loved his last name just because it was so different. Like you don't really hear Radkees, especially not in Australia. I don't know about America.

But I like that one and then there was something Ashby. I can't remember what the start of that one was. It was something Ashby and Ashby was the guitarist fur of mice and men. And then Ria Ripley came from, Ria is a goddess's name. And I was like, she's cool.

I like that. And then Ripley came from the chicks from aliens. Oh, wow. Yeah. It's a Gorney Weaver's character, right? Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. And she was a badass. And I was like, I want to be like that.

I want to be a badass. And they just mesh so well together with the RRRR. It just always works out. I mean, like, you see Roman Raines, Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riot, Raquel Rodriguez. I don't know what it is. It's just it works. Yeah. But, yeah, Ria Ripley just stuck, and we were getting ready for the first May on Classic.

And I think it was Bloom, I believe. Just walk past and he goes, Ria Ripley, I go, guess so. I got no choice. Like, I sent you my five names. You guys pick one. Is it true you cried before that first WWE match? Dude, I was terrified. Why?

Yeah. I was just scared. Like, I was 20 years old on the other side of the world by myself. And I had never... wrestled on TV before. I'd never been in such a massive production before. Like I was wrestling at footy clubs and random like buildings in Australia. And then I went to Japan for three months and and that was scary in itself, but it wasn't television like WWE was. And being a part of the first May Young Classic, it's a historic moment. I didn't want to screw up and I didn't want to

fail in a way. I'm like someone that doesn't like failing. Failing is not an option in my books. I don't, I don't like it. I don't like even thinking about giving up on something. I'm, I'm stubborn. I'm very, very stubborn. I don't like, I don't like giving up, and I don't like when people give up on themselves either. So I was just, I was scared that I would stuff something up and then be looked at as a failure and I didn't, I didn't want that to happen. So I put so much pressure on myself that I, I gave myself pretty much a panic attack, which I do a lot, unfortunately. But it's just because I want to be bigger and I want to be better and I want to make people

proud. And I just, I put it all on my shoulders and sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. Was it the pressure of like, this is it, this is my shot? Yeah. And if I mess this up, I might never get another opportunity. Yeah. I mean, at that point I had gotten that contract. I was already signed by the time I moved over for the first May Young Classic.

but anything can happen. Like people get let go in developmental, left, right and center. Anything can happen. And I didn't want to move my life all the way to America to then stuff up once and have to move my life all the way back to Australia. It was a very terrifying moment for me. But I also got to remember that, like, I trained for years for that moment. And I didn't want to throw it all the way.

And I wanted to show people what I had. Do you still feel that pressure now? Yeah, dude. Yeah, I feel that pressure all the time. Even, like, I've said it before, but like, WrestleMania 41 against Becky Lynch, I was terrified. WrestleMania 40.

Why am I getting my numbers wrong today? I'm getting so many numbers wrong today. WrestleMania 40, my God. I'm half asleep. Against Becky Lynch. Like, I work myself up so drastically that whole day, and I put so much extra stress on my own shoulders with things that I couldn't even,

like, they weren't my responsibilities. Like, I worked myself up because Becky was sick, and I was like, okay, well, I need to be at 110% so that I can help her wherever I need to help her. And then I hadn't had many matches, so I was like, I need this to be a good match. I need people to remember that I can actually go and I can actually wrestle because a lot of the times back then when I had the championship I wasn't wrestling a lot and that made me a little rusty and then I got self-conscious and I'm just like I don't want to shit the bed like I don't want to go out there and have a stinker and then have people say like this is why she shouldn't be champion this like she sucks she can't wrestle she's overpushed she's Rhea Hogan like I didn't want all of that to start spiraling because it does and it's hard to escape from. So like I just had so much stress on my shoulders and I just

I get ready super late too which doesn't help the fact. Like I remember sitting in hair and makeup and I was just like freaking out because it was I think the show started at eight. I was in the chair at 7.30 and I wasn't dressed yet and I was like okay well grill is a good 10 minute hike it's all the way on the other side of this building and I also don't know how to get there because I haven't been there all day and I'm just like sitting there panicking and I'm like I need to put my boots on

I had these boots that I've never worn before and they go over the knee which is a lot of tying my normal boots take like a good five minutes each boot like it's going to take a long time and they're brand new am I going to be able to walk in them am I going to be able to move and wrestle in them

are they too tight like I just overthought everything and that happens like so much more than I would like to admit But like, it's such a stressful thing going out there and being on live television where anything could really happen. Like, we've seen injuries happen. Zoe Stark. She got injured and Kari and I had to go out there and have a singles match when we were supposed to have a triple threat. And it was Kari's first match back within months.

She was gone for months. And I haven't wrestled Kari since an NXT house show. So it's like, okay, how do we do this on live television? If we stuff up, no one's getting blamed but us. Like, they're not going to blame anyone else. We're the two in there and where the two going at it. And on live television, we've got to put this stuff together. But I think that people look at someone like you in the position that you're in and they go,

she's got it all figured out. It must come so easy to her. I really don't, though. I really don't. And the fact that you can be open about, like, no, I struggle with, like, I get nervous about this. Or maybe I don't have it all figured out. I think that people go, I can relate to that in my everyday life. Yeah, that's why I like opening up about it, because I needed someone like that growing up.

I looked at people when I was like, Dan, they're so confident and they're so good at what they do. I wish I could be like that. But now being in that position, I can share with everyone that life is tough. Life is hard. But the more you work on yourself and work to get through these sticky situations, the better it's going to be on the other. side. And that's why, like, I always, I always try and mention little bits and pieces, like, even the panic attack, because I know a lot of people have chronic panic attacks and they don't know how to deal with that and overcome it. And I'm like, you can overcome it. You just have to

really lock in with yourself and make sure that you know how to help yourself in that situation. And if not, like, you're still going to be okay on the other side of it. Like, once it's all said and done and it's finally stopped and it's finally worn off like you will be okay um but i feel like everyone needs to hear that sort of stuff and it can help people get through some really hard times in their life but i feel like you were put on this earth to be ria ripply like i feel like you were put on this earth to do what you're doing now yeah what was the moment where you felt like you'd really arrived oh i think the the turning point in my career it's hard because I have a couple of them.

I really have a couple of them, which, like, has helped push me to the next evolution of my career. And the first one being when Teigen got injured in the second May Young, and I had to go out there and wrestle E.O. And, like, she didn't really speak English at that time either. Like, it was very, very rough. We had, what, 20 minutes to put a 15 minutes match together. And it was just like, all right. plan something. And I'm like still trying to get over this really traumatic situation, which I was just a part of, um, still had Tegan's screams in the back of my head and,

and just the noises that were coming out of her. And honestly, those noises still freak me out today because then Zoe did the same ones and I'm like, okay, this is bad. We need to like, not touch her. And it's just like a really specific noise that a human makes when they're in literal pain. But then going out there and putting on such a good match with EO, first time ever touching and having Hunter come out and raise my hand on the ramp on the stage, it was just like, I feel like they're noticing now. And this is a great start to where I could be going. Because before that, I wasn't booked on NXT. I was lucky enough to get booked on the coconut shows. I wasn't really liked. I don't know why because I feel like I'm a very

likable person sometimes. Very. But I just, I tried hard and I wanted to be the best and I wanted to do my best and I felt like people didn't like me at the PC and they just picked on me and I didn't feel like I was worth anything and I just, I didn't feel like I didn't feel like I belonged. And at that moment, I felt like people were starting to turn that page and starting to be like, okay, she can go. The boss likes her. That's a good sign. She just went out there and she had this bang a match under all these circumstances. So we can see a little bit of possibility in her. So that was like a real big moment for my career. And then the other moment was when I actually debuted on NXT. I confronted China Basler and Marina.

and Jessamine and just coming out after having a little bit of time in NXUK, the crowd had started to know my name and got behind me a little bit. I was on more coconut shows. So I was like around the Orlando base more and the Orlando crowd at full sale, they knew who I was at that point. So when I debut, the music hit and I went straight up to Shana, who was the champion at the time and I was like, you haven't beaten me, bitch. And the whole crowd just like erupted. That was a really, really massive part in my career. And like, I love the title match and all that, but that really like turned my career around because it was at that moment where, because that was when we were filming full sale, we were filming four weeks in a row. So it was

like, all right, we're here all day, we're going to be filming four shows. So everything's already pre-planned. And I was supposed to wrestle with Shana and I was supposed to lose. I wasn't supposed to win. It was supposed to be a throwaway. Rea's here. Yep, she lost to the champion. Now we probably don't know what to do with her. But because I got such a massive reaction from the full sale crowd, Sarah Amato literally ran into the locker room and she's like, we have to change the ending of the match. Ria can't lose. We're going to do a DQ because that's all like, we can really think of right now to continue it. So it was a DQ finish. I think I hit her with a chair and then I sat in the chair and told her to come back in my ring because I wanted to continue

fighting. And then it trickled down and we had the match with the championship and the rest is really much history. It's just been like so much momentum, right? It's like this builds on that, that builds on that. Yeah. And somehow it keeps getting better. I don't know. I feel like my whole career has just been like happy slash really shitty accidents

that then push me to the next level. And it's wild to like look back at my life and I'm like, wow, I definitely was not supposed to be. No, that's the thing you were. Like in all those things, it feels like they lined up. Maybe not the way that you ever imagine they would, but wow. Yeah, it's been a wild ride. You guys know that when it comes to health and well-being, I'm always looking for an edge.

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Follow and listen on your favorite platform. What's been the WrestleMania moment for you? Honestly, the WrestleMania moment, I always said my match with Charlotte because it's everything that I wanted my first mania to be because it ended up being the COVID mania. I didn't get my family. I didn't get the crowd. I didn't get anything that normally goes into a mania. And it was just like, wow, I'm back at the place that I really didn't like going to every

day and this is my WrestleMania. Yeah. So to then go and like face Charlotte again, but it being in front of a crowd and I saw my family in the front row. I had like all the adrenaline in the world. Everything was like so perfect. And then I beat her for the first time. I won the Smackdown Women's Championship. That was like my WrestleMania moment.

But now I feel like the match with EO and Bianca has triumphed that. That's such a good match. I am literally so proud of that match. I love those two so much and going through NXC with them and like overcoming things with them and watching them overcome things and watching them grow as performers and then me growing as performer to get to that point where we could go to WrestleMania and have such a stellar match and have people like channing,

this is awesome and us being the opener. I mean, I couldn't ask for anything more. I understand. I lost. Like, it doesn't matter at that time. It really didn't because that was Eos moment, but we all got a moment from it at the same time. Yeah. Your entrance at WrestleMania 39 was so good.

Yes. Dude. Yeah. It was great. I've had some good entrances. You've had some great entrances. Is there one you like better than that? Probably not.

Like it was just like you were just the personification of cool. Yeah. Right? And you hadn't even wrestled yet. Dude. Just you're walking down. I was so unconfident as well. I don't know what happens.

As soon as my music plays and I walk through that curtain, I turned to a different animal. Like I, before that, I was just like, I don't know what I'm doing. I need water. I need something to eat. I need to like work my life out. I feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm going to vomit. I don't know what's going on.

And then as soon as I go through the curtain, I'm like, I got this. You singing your music as you were walking down the ramp was just like, I don't think a human can be cooler than this. Yeah, I love my song. I love motionless and why. It might be one of the best entrance themes in wrestling right now. I agree, honestly. I have to humbly agree.

Just because I know a lot of people use it to work out as well. like Matt, my husband, he always listens to it. Like every time he's working out, he'll just walk past me and be like, babe, this is my brutality. And just like go and continue doing his set. I'm like, I love you. I think it's safe to say you're his favorite wrestler. It's safe to say.

And he's mine too. He really is. He's like, he moves like so incredibly well for the size that he is. he's so smooth with everything and he's so crisp and just like everything that he does is perfect. I don't think I've seen this man have a bad match and I've watched him since Australia. Like I used to go to Riot City and he used to be in the ring,

wrestling, doing his thing and I don't think I've seen him have a bad match. Wow. I used to hate him. I think he said this when he was on. He did. And I'm like, what do you mean? I hated him. I hated him with a passion because I loved Sway,

which was a female wrestler. and he was from Melbourne and he came and I can't remember if he was in the, no, he wasn't in the crowd, Jimmy was in the crowd, he came from the back and he just punched sway straight in the face. I was like, sir, how dare you? I don't think I saw him before that too. I think that was like my introduction to Matt Silver at the time. And he punched his way straight in the face and then Jimmy Scarlett jumped the barricade and chased him away and then they had like a whole feud and all that.

Yeah, I didn't like him. But did you go, what a handsome man? No. No, I was like, look at the incredible shape he's in. I was like, who the, what is this red-headed fuck punching my favorite wrestler? So how did he win you? How did he come around on him? Honestly, it took a while.

How did he win you over? So I didn't actually talk to him much. His last show in Australia was my first show, and I was working merch. So I wasn't even on the show. He literally left as I was starting in this business. So once he came to America, he was at the PC a little bit with the COVID error. So I would see him there. And I saw him a little bit in my NXT run as well, but he wasn't really there at the same time as me.

But we'd have like random conversations in passing or just like little bits and pieces. Or he'd look depressed. And I'd be like, you're okay? But yeah, that's about it really. That's all we ever like said to each other. And then my sister actually started dating his best friend. And I went up to him. And I was like, you know, Callista's dating Brooksie, right?

He goes, what? He never told me that. And then that started like a whole conversation. He's like, I don't like it. I was like, oh, I think they're cute, but like maybe you're right. And then we would talk about their relationship, which kind of like made our relationship a little bit better. But then it came down to a Halloween party at Elie. a night's house and um yeah i rocked up late i didn't want to go uh Simone actually made me go

so it rocked up at like 11 p.m. What were you dressed as? Penny worse. Oh wow. Actually that's a lie that was the next one. I was just as freddie Kruger. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Love Freddie Krueger if you haven't realized. Oh yeah. Love him. But um I rocked up late. I didn't actually have a proper costume. I just put this random um, um, woolen thing on that was like black and red lines and then I had the claw and I had the hat and that's all I had. I think I had the high boots on. I was like yeah, you were clearly not planning to go to this party. I was not. I wanted to go to bed so bad. I've been to an LA night Halloween party. Oh, there's a lot. They're a good time and then at midnight it's his birthday. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. It's a wild

night. It's fun. That's very fun. And I like them now, but at that time, like, I didn't really know anyone. And I wasn't really, like, a out of home body, you know, like, I was a very home body. I still am. But, yeah, she made me go to that party. And then as I was leaving, I saw him on this fucking rock and chair, just gone, absolutely gone. I was like, bye, buddy. He's like, bye, Rhea. And then that was it. And then the next day he messaged me, he's like, sorry that you had to see me like. It's like it's okay. And then we caught up and had sushi and it's the first time that I had actually like opened up to someone straight away. It was such a weird like feeling because I had had conversations with him before but I feel like because they were all at work, they were like

centered around work where when we went and got sushi, he was a completely different person. I saw like the happy, bubbly side of him, the protective side. I talked to him about everything that has happened in my life before that moment and like the bad the good the everything I told him about past relationships I told him about things that I've overcome and like just watching him and his demeanor and like how then he would open up but he'd also like get angry or upset or happy for me about those situations I was like okay he's actually listening and he actually cares where a lot of people you talk about your life and you're like they're just listening for the sake of listening where he actually like listen, which then helped me open up more. And by the time that

date was over, like he knew so much about me, so much more than he had already known. And like, I just knew from pretty much then. I was like, he's, he's someone special that I kind of want to like continue seeing and see where this goes, even though I hated him before. Look at you guys now. Yeah. Look at you now. I know. Now we're married. We got three fur babies. It's three? We got three, yeah. Wow. Yeah, it's wild.

We have Luna, who was my first. I got her when I first moved over, so she's like seven, seven and a half. And then I have Barry, who I got with my ex-partner, and he's a handful. Barry. Yeah, he's a lot, but he loves Dad. He loves Dad. He's his favorite. And then we got Bella, who we got of a crack addict in the middle of the road.

He told me that story. Yeah, Wild. Crazy. It was nuts, and it was the day that I got back after vacating the title, because I was in the sling, and I was just depressed. I was so depressed. And he was a woman on the side of the road selling a dog. So this guy was in the middle of the road.

It was like this slither of like island in the middle of the road. And he's just holding this dog like this. And she's like, oh, four feet just dangling. He's got a sign. And we drove from like behind and we didn't see what the sign was. And as we got to the other side, I tried to turn around. He, like, half, like, turned. I was like, I can't read it.

He said, like, do you want me to go around again? I was like, yeah. And he knows, like, the verbiage better of what we said because we both have different, like, rememberings of it. And he went around again, and we missed it again. He turned. And he's like, if I go around again,

I know that we're going to have a dog. I'm like, yeah. Like, I'm going to get the dog if it's for sale because it doesn't look healthy. Like, it looks very, like, malnourished. So we went around. around again and by the time he went over the 7-Eleven, it was just like a wild goose chase, just trying to like track this guy down. And then he was walking around the dumpsters.

And I was like, Matt, he's going to dump this dog. Like, we need to get this dog off for this person because I don't know what he's going to do with it. So then when we pulled into 7-Eleven, I literally went down the window. And I didn't even finish my sentence. I was like, how much? And he's like, $100. Okay, bet. The first time I've ever had cash on me as well. I was like, it was meant to be. Me meant to be 100 bucks. And then you start talking and then this lady comes over and she's just like, we had a whole litter of them and this is the last one.

And if we have to keep her, then we'd keep her. But, you know, we got six dogs already. What an American accent. Bro, I was like, these people don't have six dogs. And they did not have a litter of puppies. Well, they now have $100. Literally. I was like, take your $100.

Go do what you've got to do with it. Yeah. I won't know about it. And we'll save this dog's life. Give me the puppy. Yeah. And I was like, in my sling. And I gave him the money and he just goes and just holds her up to the window.

I was like, sir, I cannot grab the dog. Can you please just put it on my lap? He's just like holding it. I'm like, I gave you the money now. Give me the merchandise, you know? Like, give me the dog. But as soon as she's out of my lap, she cut up in a little bowl and she's just the cutest little potato that you could ever see, you know? Yeah.

I bet you miss them so much. I do. I do. You're on the road a lot. They're demonic forces now. Like, they're just absolutely crazy. But I miss them so much. How much do you think your storyline with Dominic helped to level you up?

Oh, I think a lot. Honestly, I think that was like another turning point in my career, being partnered with Dom and also being a part of the Judgment Day. It made me open up as a performer. It made me have to work a lot more because I was doing like nine segments in a 16 segment show, sometimes more. We were doing everything as a part of Judgment Day. I was running around helping Finn and Damien and then helping Dom and doing promos,

making business deals, wrestling myself, doing women's storylines. And I was just like, I had no time to think about absolutely anything. I just had to go. I was like, what do I need to do? Cool. Going live in three, two, one, do what you got to do. And then being partnered with Dom, it just like, it helped my character like transform into something different.

Because I feel like in NXT, I was doing the same thing but on the different brands. I was NXT UK, and I was like that force that came from the Second May Young Classic. And then that kind of transferred onto NXT but in a baby-faced sort of manner,

which was a little bit different, but kind of the same. And then as soon as I came to the main roster, it was in COVID. So like Vince didn't know what to do with me. He didn't know if I was face or heel. And he's like, or she looks like a heel and everyone was like, you don't understand she's a baby face.

People are actually like, oh, he's like, no, she's a heel. So then going out there and being so confused on like, what I'm doing, but not having that crowd reaction to actually like, feed off of and prove my point that I was a baby face at the time.

It made it really hard. And then after that, like, obviously the trial and error with the tag team stuff, but also like holding onto who I was in NXT. I feel like when I got partnered with Dom, I could actually like, blossom a little bit into something different. Instead of being the hard-ass all the time,

I was Mommy. And Mommy became a whole other character. It did. It became a whole thing of its its own. And it's just like, it's wild to see how far that, that Mommy character went. Like, I had so many different mommy phases within that two years. And, like, each role would see, like, two to three different Mammies, you know? Like, I, like I said, I'd be doing, like, business deals with Paul Heyman and I'd be like a mommy business sort of thing there and then I'd have to split bloody priest and fin up from fighting each other when they're about to go out and do a tag match and I'd be mommy Ria then where I'm stern and I'm like no and then I'd be mommy Ria with Dom where it's like I'm loving, I'm nurturing, I'm helpful, I'm there for him and it's just like

so many different mommies all in one and it's like I feel like that that just helped me with like opening up and acting and showing different sides of myself and and connecting to different like groups of individuals in the crowd as well, which then helped me get more popular with what I was doing because people could connect with it. Did you have any idea, Mommy would be a thing? No, I was trying to push the puppy agenda. And they were like, that's taken. Yeah, they're like, yeah, we can't do that. And then Priest was like, what about Mommy? I was like, okay. I guess I'll be mommy. I just,

I was really set on the poppy thing. I was like, I can be a little shitsterer. Just be poppy. Poppy this, poppy that. But mommy, they were like,

that's Eddie's thing. Yeah. They're like, we just can't, we can't go there. And I was like, okay, I respect that.

Mommy's going to grow on me though. And it's become what it's become. It did. Yeah. It really did. Like, thank God priest said that. And then Dom latched onto it.

And then Dom latched onto it. And then Dom sang it repetitively. Just like, blew it up for me. The mommy's always on top and the I'm your mommy shirts and all that. It's just, it's wild. I never, I never could have seen my career going down that path, like ever. When you licked Dom, was that kind of like the, I licked it so it's mine? Yeah. Yeah, it was. Oh, man. So like, my, my character is so complex. So complex. because I'm like, I'm trying to be a badass.

I don't want to be too feminine, but I don't want to be too masked. And it's like that fine line in the middle. And Hunter's like, well, I wouldn't see you like kissing him. I'm like, okay, that's fair. Rhea Ripley's a little bit too hard around the corners for that. He's like, I see you like licking him. I'm like, sadly, I do too. Like, you know, I feel like that's just something I would do.

and like Rear Ripley's just so complicated. And it's like I don't know how to, there's layers to Rio. Like she doesn't know how to express herself. So she does it in a completely different way to like hide little bits and pieces. And it's just like, licking just seemed like such an appropriate thing to do.

And I was like, yeah, I liked it. So he's mine. I own him. He's mine. Like he's my boyfriend. Okay. You don't get him. Are you still learning about Ria Ripley with every promo, every match?

I am, and it's hard sometimes because it's like things change so drastically in this profession. And I also find an interesting to you talk about Ria Ripley, like Ria Ripley's a different person. Sometimes she is. Sometimes I'm like, hmm, was that me? Because I blacked out for a second. My bad. I literally come back sometimes and I'm like, I don't remember what just happened. really just took over my entire body and being.

But yeah, I mean, I can't remember where I was going with it. You're learning as the weeks go on about like, oh, maybe this would work. Maybe this would work. Yeah. And it's just like, I feel like Ria is so complicated that I can't grasp exactly what the emotions are that I should portray because it's a struggle that people go through day. as well. Like me as Demi, like I don't know how to portray the feelings that I'm feeling and the emotions and sometimes I lash out when I shouldn't. And that's really what Ria's like too. Except she's like a serious case of that shit crazy. And she really doesn't know how to express her

feelings. And every time she does express a feeling and open up to someone and latch on, then they do something that takes that trust away. And then it's right back to the start. And that's what I feel like some people can't follow because they're like, hang on a second. No, last week she was okay. This week she's really angry again. It's like because that little boundary was crossed and now she's all walls are up again. And it's just like, I learn little bits and pieces and like going through the stories and having them changed like drastically week to week and like also not knowing exactly what is happening. I have to like work on the fly sometimes and like try and portray the feelings and emotions that Ria would be feeling in that

current moment. And sometimes it's just so complex that I don't realize what's going on. Sometimes the fans would like write this whole like essay of like why I felt that way. And I'm like, wow, you really broke down my emotions. Like you nailed that. I couldn't even put that into words and you have literally deciphered the code. It's just wow because it's like it's something that

some people go through and some people don't so some people are going to relate and some people just think that I'm crazy. The way that you pin people is like the most Rio Ripley thing ever. Yeah. Like it feels like something that only your character would do. Yeah.

So that actually started in Australia. Oh, you've been doing it that long? I've been doing it for a long time. I pinned Zach Sabbath that way, which was like an intergender match that I had. But I've been doing it for a long time. And I think the reason, that it's like really stuck with me is because Matt and Chris Basso, my trainers, they used to call it the sexy pin.

And we used to laugh about it every time we'd do it like, ha, sexy pin. So it's just like, I think that's just stuck in my head. Now I'm just like, ha, sexy pin. I don't know why. It's just like my automatic like movements now. It works. It works. It works.

Very really, really, yes. You've mixed it up with a lot of guys. What was the first one? So the first one would probably be Zach, yeah, Zach Sabbath. What about in WWE? Tozawa. Oh, that was the last one. I actually had the handicap match in NXT with Alia and Robert Stone.

Yeah, that was fun. I want to do that again. When you picked up Luke Gallows, you made it look like you weighed nothing. And he's a big guy. Dude, I got him up there and literally I think you could see the smile on my face. I'm doing it. And then once I threw him down, like, I got so in this man's face, I was just screaming. I'm like, you know who I am?

I'm really bloody rippling. I'm just like so hot that I got this man up and held him for a couple of seconds and then slammed him. Because he's big, dude. He's long. Like, when you pick up someone that tall, like their body proportion and just like, it rocks you around. So I was like really proud of myself in that moment. And it's funny because priest comes back afterwards and he's like, of course you had to go all rear on him. Like you just got so excited afterwards and just, I was.

screaming, man. It looked like it was nothing. Like, sorry. You're like, dad. Like, that's the point. Yeah. I was there to help you. What do you think of the comparisons you've had to China? I love them. I do. I really do love them. I think she was such a unique being in this industry. And she really did, like, open up so much for women, especially like, intergender wise and just, like, being part of DX and all of that. Like, she's done so much incredible stuff. And she's really someone that, like, I look up to, especially being different, being bigger and bulkier, and just having a different build to a lot of the women. She's someone that I really do look up to, so I'm glad that I get the comparisons.

But at the same time, like, I want to be the first Rea Ripley. Like, I love that the whole storyline with Dom, him being Eddie, me being China. It kind of just, like, flowed. And a lot of the stuff that we did, we didn't actually mean to match up with stuff that they did. It just kind of worked out that way, like even just mannerisms. It just came so naturally that that would be what we would do. And we did it and we'd come back and then on Twitter people would have like comparisons of like us doing it next to Chiron, Eddie doing the exact same thing.

And we're like, wow, like we didn't even mean to do that. So like I love that there's that comparison. But at the same time, I want to be like the first rear of Ripley. And there's like this entire generation now of little girls that want to be the next rear Ripley. How does that feel? It's wild. It's, yeah.

It's wild. I don't even know how to put it into words, to be completely honest. Like it just, it makes me proud. It makes me emotional because I'm just like I could be helping someone accomplish their dreams. And it's like, that's what I wanted growing up. That's what I wanted to look up to. And it's just wild to like see little girls get so excited for me.

And I'm like, I'm really just going out there and having fun and doing my thing. And I'm inspiring a whole new generation of people. Even little boys. It's just wild. It's really sweet to see. And it's like, I'm glad that I could be motivating people and helping people strive to do whatever they want to do and accomplish things. And even the little girls accomplish things in male-dominated sports because at the end of the day, it's all going to change. So I want to swap up.

And it's not going to be male-dominated sports anymore. It's going to be equal. And it's going to be a lot of the women are going to take over. You're my wife's favorite wrestler. I feel like you're a lot of wife and girls. friends, favorite wrestlers. Yes. Hey, I'll take it.

I mean, she's just like unapologetically like, Rhea, that's it. We have like a dozen wrestle buddies from big shots. And she's like, she sent me a picture earlier. She's like, look, I'm sitting next to the Ria one. I love it. I get that so much. Even just like looking out into the crowd, it's like, there's signs and it would be like, my wife loves Ria Ripley.

And I'm like, yes, she does. What do you think it is? I don't know. I don't know how to put my finger on it. A lot of people would have said that it's like the sex appeal and like the confidence appeal. But I'm just saying what other people said, you know, like. I saw a TikTok that was, it was this girl talking. She's like, oh, my boyfriend's trying to get me into wrestling.

And I was like, I don't know. And then I saw Rio Ripley. I've seen a couple of them. It's so funny to see that because I'm just like, I'm just going out there and being me doing my thing, you know? I don't even know how to put it in a word. And I'm just, it's wild to see all those TikToks and signs and hear people say it. I'm just like, bet, that's cool.

Like, I'm glad that I'm getting people's partners into wrestling. It's getting more eyes on it. And it's getting, like, more supporters for the females as well. Because, like, they could fall in love with me and then they could watch it. And then they could fall in love with Liv, Raquel, Naomi, Bianca, Iyo, Kari, anyone really and it's like that really gets the bowl rolling and they they support us more and they get more into it and it helps us get to that next level for the women. Did you know the reaction you were going to get when you did the stink face? No. I mean I knew it was going to be big but like that

shit exploded. Yeah. Like it wasn't even my idea. Who's idea was it? Naya's idea guys. She's like yeah and then you stink face me. I'm like, bet. Okay. If you want. But then like before all about it, I was like, I think I should do like the rikishi. Pull them up, you know. Just do the little like little dance beforehand. I was like, I'm not going to get it spot on.

So I'm just going to do my own thing. But I'll do the whole like gimmick. And man, yeah, it still pops up. Oh, yeah. On my Twitter. It's wild. I got so much publicity off that, but I also got so much like negativity. And I was like, guys, you need to come.

What do you mean? Just like people will just. like saying that I'm taking the women's division back 20 years. And I'm like, that's not what's happening. It's just such a fun moment. It's a fun moment. And it's a house show. I might not allow to have fun.

If it was anyone else, you'd be supporting it. I feel like people love to hate really, and you know, the more you talk about me, the more you're acting like a fan. So continue talking. But you're paying tribute to a legend. It's a fun moment. Exactly. And it's like, it wasn't even my idea.

Like, Naya wanted to take my ass to her face, you know? Just trying to make the wishes come true, you know. But on the flip side, do you realize how much you're going to break the internet when you post some of these photos you post on Instagram? Oh, yeah. Sometimes I do it out of petty. I'm like the biggest petty person that you could think of. Like I dropped one before SummerSlam, what year was it? It was like a couple years ago now.

And it was because I wasn't on the show. And I was like, bet, well, I'm going to trend one way or another. Oh. Well, it worked. Yeah, yeah. I'm just petty. I'm just a stubborn petty mess. That's all that goes into that?

Yeah, pretty much. Sometimes I'm just feeling myself, you know, and I got to, like, I got to remember that, like, I work hard for what I have. And sometimes it's okay to, like, flaunt it. Other people flaunt it. Why can't I? Like, I'm not taking a naked photo and putting it on Twitter. Like, I don't understand why people would get so upset over me taking a photo. with my pajamas just because it's a bra and undies, you know.

Especially in WrestleMania season. Yeah. You guys all dial in the diet. Literally. To look the best you can for that hour. Exactly. Like if Matt can go out and post a photo with his shirt off, I should be able to do the damn same thing.

Well. You know, I'll wear something. But like, I should be able to do that too. I'm sure that the majority of the internet thinks you for that, you know? What does Matt think of it? He loves it. He's like, you're going to break the internet again? I'm like, bet.

You want to, like, help me write a caption? You know, how many people are so jealous of your husband? Yeah. Yeah, I get a lot of people like saying that on Twitter. Like, the Dov Zingler meme is a massive one. It should have been me. She gets me all the time. It's good that you embrace it.

It's just funny to me at this point because I'm like, I love my husband and there's no way that I'm ever going to do anything bad to ruin what we have. But it's really funny watching people try. Did it really get to the point with fans where you had to publicly say like, stop sending stuff to our house? So it wasn't sending stuff. Someone actually came to my house. Oh my gosh.

Yeah. So, yeah. It was the last Valentine's Day. So like this year. And we had left for Australia because we had obviously his show and then we're going to continue with our honeymoon afterwards because we've been married for a year this coming Monday. And you told him don't get injured in the match. I told him not to get injured.

And he comes back with he goes, well, the bell didn't ring yet. You little shit. Loopholes. Loop holes. Like, can't you just jump off the corner like a normal human? And like, please, why do you have to roll your ankle and, like, break everything? And then he still wrestled. He still wrestled.

What a beast. And he still walked. And he still did everything. And he, he gritted his teeth and took it on the chin like a champ because he didn't want to disappoint me. And, like, I wouldn't, I truly wouldn't have been disappointed. Obviously, like, I wish that we could have done more stuff. But just having that time with him was all that I needed.

That's all I really needed. And that's all I ever wanted. and I just wanted to be able to relax with him. And it was nice, like, going to Australia, but not doing, like, the normal things that we did because we went and just walked around Queensland for a while. But back on track. But we had left to do all that,

and we looked at the ring camera, and there's some chick at our door. And I didn't think anything of it. And I was like, why does she keep ringing the doorbell and then, like, just standing there for eternity? And then we had our Australian friends, friends, the Paradea, who live near us, and they came to pick up our mail. And they go, this is for Ria Ripley. I think it's fan mail. I was like, oh, no, who the hell has my

address? Like, that's just something that people shouldn't be doing. That's kind of like crossing the line. Like, we are normal people outside of work, and we like our privacy. We like to have, like, our normal humanity. But I went back and I watched the ring doorbell, and this chick was like she just came out of the movie smile. Like she was, I'm sorry if you're watching this lady, but you were terrifying. Like she was scary. Like she rang the doorbell and she got real close to it and she just goes, and then she looks at her phone and she goes, she did this for so long.

Like she was there for like 10 minutes and then she left, came back, did it again. And then she left and then she came back wearing something different. What? And rang the doorbell again. And I was just like, this lady really. things that were home. Like the cars are there because like we left them there. But like if I was home, I wouldn't know what to do. Like if I opened the door and she was just standing there like what could have happened. Like she could have done anything. I don't know you. Yeah. Like you could have

attacked me. And I don't know how she got her car in the gate. Like we have a gated community. So my God, no one let you in. Yeah. Oh. Terrified. That's so scary. It is. And like this stuff happens all the time with everyone. Like Liv had one the other day. as well and then there was a whole Roxanne stuff that was going on and just like people need to understand that like wrestling is our passion and it's our love but like at the same time you have to understand that that's our work and it's like we go home and we're different people and what you see on TV is not what you get outside of TV so it's like we're normal people please do not come up to our house do not stalk up to our house do not stalk up

property, do not threaten to kill us over a storyline on WWE. And it's just like, it's craziness like that. And it's just like people need to understand boundaries sometimes. What's the thing about Demi that fans might be most surprised to learn? I'm shy. I'm so scared of the outside world. What? Yeah, dude. Like, I'm sweating right now. It is hot in here. I'm sorry. No, you're good. You're good. We had to turn the air conditioner off. It's making too much noise. It was too noisy. But like, I get, like, real bad anxiety, and I don't like, I don't like when people, like, swarm me because I freak out. And it happens real bad whenever we go to Universal or something. Like, man, I try and hide my best.

I really do. But Matt being Matt, he's an enormous human. And I'm like, why are you wearing a tank top today? Like, you knew we were going to be around people. Put the pump cover on. Literally, hide your muscles, please. Like, oh, my God, what are you doing? you can tan later

but they just I don't know they swarm us and it's like sometimes we'd go to Universal and there'd be like a group of there was a group of 18 people one time and they just

and I was not in the mood to like talk to people my my uncle had just passed and I was trying to like distract myself a little bit and that was my distraction I was like I want to go to Universal and try and have like

fun on my day off and like this group of like 18 people one of them saw me and that was the end it was like fucking World War Z they just all ran towards me with cameras. And then once you see that, everyone around just like looks.

Well, they're like, who's the famous person? Yeah, they're like, who's that? And then you have people coming up to you like after they leave. And they're like, I'm sorry. I don't know who you are. But can I get a photo? I'm like, can you just like not please? Like, I appreciate that you want to get a photo. And I, I love that you think I'm famous. But like, I kind of just want to like have fun today. You know? Like I just my, my humanity. communication, like all of that. Like, it's just like, my meter's down. Like, I'm just getting pushed down and pushed down.

And I just, I curl up in a bowl by the end of it. I'm like, I've unpeopled out. I can't, I can't people anymore. I think people think they recognize you. And then when they see Matt, they go, it is. A hundred percent. And people have said that to me. And that's why I'm like, why are you writing a taste?

I talked to him about it, but these photos were like, they're clearly taking a photo with you. But he's in the back. He's in the background just looking like the biggest juggernaut. Yeah. Literally. There's the one in Walmart where he's on the edge of the photo. Yeah, that guy 100% wanted him in the photo.

But look, I feel like people were more focused on him. I'll take it. His arms were huge. Dude, when that posted and I saw it on my Twitter, I was like, whoa, Matt, you're going to be happy about your body for once in your life. I showed him. He's like, whoa, I look huge. So, like, that was a good one.

I was like, thank God he posted that photo with him in it. because, like, it's a good reminder to him that he is a massive human being. He also looks so menacing. Oh, dude, he's got the bitchiest face. Well, he's clearly, like, making a face, like... Literally. He's got this thing where, like, we're walking through, like, the shops or something, and he's like, I've got to look scary so people don't approach us.

And I'm like, bro, you think you're looking scary, but you're making people look at us. You have this face and you're walking through like, sorry, that was my chest. My chest is great. You're okay? It does that sometimes. But he's like walking through, like holding my hand. He's like, just being the big human that he is.

I'm like, dude, you puffing your chest out is not hiding us. It's making people look at us even more. And I'm there walking next to him like this. Just like trying to hide. And for people that don't know, like he's a bodybuilder. Like, yeah, he's a wrestler. but he's the size of a bodybuilder. Yes.

And then, can't hide him. People come up to him anyway, and they're like, what do you do? Like, are you a bodybeater? Do you compete? And like,

like, you're starting these conversations by looking so good. Can you just look a little shittier, please? Please, just a little bit. Yeah, work on that. Yeah.

Yeah, geez. Where you pump a couple? What's been the scariest moment in the ring for you? Oh, like for myself, my own well-being, or other people's well-being.

You tell me. Oh, that's tough. I mean, I've had a lot with other people, like I said, Tegan and Zoe and all that. So then what is it for you? For me, I had this one moment in Australia where I thought I snapped my leg in half and I was very scared. Oh, I had two moments in Australia actually. I thought I think about it. But I had this one and it was like, I believe it was an all women's show in a wrestling facility that we had.

And, yeah, it was City Chicks 2, I believe, because I think I won the title that night. And Savannah Summers was sitting up on the top corner. And I used to do this thing where, like, I'd do like a running scissor kick in a way. So I ran up and like this leg came up first and then I came around and did the roundhouse to her. But as I was jumping, this leg got stuck and it like straightened out. And I hyper-extended my knee real bad, but I thought I broke my shin in half. because it got stuck so bad that this part had like gone to bend but then realize it couldn't bend so my shin was just like in so much pain and I had to like look down and make sure that my leg was

not in two pieces so like that was scary and then I had another moment where I got shitcanned over the top rope to the outside and I flew so far I missed all the mats on the outside and I hit the concrete straight on my face and I was like yeah it's going to be a black eye That was the first time I had a black guy. I'm sure you looked cool with it. I did look really cool. How did you decide on Riptide to be your finish? I was trying to do the...

What the hell is it called? Pump handle slam? No, I was trying to do the... I got a middle bank. My finish from the first May Young. I was doing that for a hot minute. And I was like, this is shit. Like, it doesn't look impactful.

It doesn't look good. If people don't help me, I can't do it myself because it's literally like if they're a little bit taller, I can't pick them up very high. So I was like, I need to work on something. And I went to the PC and Shane Hayst, he was there and he's like, I'll help you work on something. So him, me and Tegan Knox went into like this squishy ring that we had.

It was like a padded ring where you could do like high flying stuff to practice. And it just, it's a nice landing. And so landing on the normal mats, which sucks when you're learning. And he was. thrown out random moves and then we got into the pump handle slam and I was like that's kind of cool. Like I like that one. I'd watch the video a little bit to see like how it was performed. I was like it looks like it could be really impactful. So I did it with Tegan in the squishy ring for the first time and I was like that could be really, I like that. I think I'm going to

stick with this. And it was at the time where like everyone's trying to find like a finishing move and like if you're not on TV you've got to keep your stuff like hidden because people were still it. So it was like I hit it a couple times and I was like, I hit it a couple times. And I was like, okay, I think it's good. Filmed it, had it on camera. And then, like, I hit it away for, like, until the second May Young Classic, I hit it away for so long. And I was like, I can't let anyone see this move because someone's going to do it on TV

before me and I can't get booked to save my life. So I had to wait all the way to the second May Young Classic where then I finally, like, pulled it out and hit it. You hit it as a sit-out. I used to. It hurts your butt. So bad. So, but I don't even know how to move my body that way anymore to,

to hear as sit-out. I don't know. I think Austin Stone Cold talks about how, like, landing the stunner for so many years, like, compresses your spine. It screws your back up real bad, yeah. And, like, I already have lower back problems. So, like, I don't want to know what it would be like if I had continued doing it where I would sit out.

But people got hot when I changed it. They were like, why aren't you doing the sit-out anymore? I'm like, guys, I got my reasons. Like, I'd prefer some longevity here. I kind of want to, like, continue wrestling for a little bit. Like to keep my spine in one piece? Literally. But now my knees paid the price.

Yeah, how are your knees? Yeah, they're not good. Really? Yeah, I mean, my knees have never been good, like, since birth. So it's like, one of my kneecaps is, like, rounded. That's my right one, I think. Nice crack there. There it goes.

But, like, it used to pop out all the time. It's, like, my kneecap is rounded. It doesn't, like, it's not triangle, so it doesn't go into the groove. So I used to get stuck. If I would try and, like, squat up real quick when I was, younger, my kneecap would slide and go to the back of my knee and my leg would be stuck like this and I'd have to like get someone to straighten it and it would slowly go back and then it would pop back in and it was really bad for a hot minute until I started going to the gym and like

working on my muscles to keep it in place. That sounds awful. Yeah, it wasn't good. So it's like every time I land on it, it's just like, I hope that it didn't move. Even though it's your finisher. Literally. Is there something that hurts when you get out of bed in the morning? Um, normally my lower back, especially lately. I don't know what's been going on. I think it actually

started from the match I had with Raquel in NXT, where she gave me the back body drop onto the announcement table, but we undershot it and I hit the very like edge of the table, like right on my lower back. And after that, like, my lower back was like, just never the same. But I mean, I do whatever I can to try and like make it better. like um i have like ah masseuse matthew come over and he works on it he helps stretch me out and like puts my hips back into in line pretty much and just like fixes all that and it's like thank goodness i do that and thank god for him that he comes over to help because sometimes it gets really bad like i didn't think that i would be able to wrestle uh uh wrestlingania 41 um

42 sorry 41 41 yeah 41 wow my numbers are really off today If you have a time machine, you could wrestle up 42. This is like, I woke up at like 4 a.m. today. So my numbers are just everywhere. But, yeah, 41, I didn't think I was going to be able to compete because my back was so bad, like, leading up to it. And the two nights beforehand, I got Matthew to come to my room and he worked on me the night before Hall of Fame and the night of Hall of Fame. I was like, I need you to like make sure I can walk tomorrow. and he worked on me those two nights and it loosened completely just in time for the match

and then after the match it was okay and then like slowly because I've been wrestling more it's just like it slowly tightens up but that's because I just don't stretch on my own so that's my fault as well yeah but it was that bad I need to be better yeah it gets really bad I don't know if it's like a sciatic thing or whatnot or just like my my body in itself like the shape of my body and how I'm like put together I don't know what's going on but it's something But it does go down and it definitely like revs up some of them and sometimes it's just like bearable. DDP, I'll tell you you got to stretch it out. I know.

I know. I need to do. That seems to be like the longevity hack for anybody who's still wrestling in their 40s or 50s. Yeah. They're like, I just stretch a lot. Yeah. And I need to. See, my problem with stretching is I've asked Matt to do it with me a million times.

And I'm like, hey, can we stretch after this workout please? Or before the workout. and he goes, oh, no, I don't need to do that. I'm like, bro, you're as much, if not more pain than I'm in. Please stretch. Give me this moment of us stretching together so we can just get it down and do it. And I don't have to feel like you're waiting for me at the end of the workout and you're rushing me because he loves to rush me. He loves to rush me.

Before we wrap this up, what was your first tattoo? too. My first one was my one that I got with Tony. Tony Storm. I got this one. The Roman numerals? Yeah, the Roman numerals. It's the date of evolution. And it's also the date of my city wrestling trial. You had none before that one? This was my first one, like my proper first one.

Wow. Yeah, it was the date of evolution, the date of my RCW triad six years prior, the exact same date. And I was like, wow, my life has like gone on this wild journey within this six years. I'm like, this date has to be on me for the rest of my life. So me and Tony, we got matching. So move your watch. Let's see if I can read the Roman numerals. Let's see.

Great watch. That's 10, right? X is 10. And 28. Okay. Wow. Yeah. That was like fifth grade.

I remember learning that. Yeah. 28th of October. Yeah. It's wild. It's so wild. And then my second one, which Raquel likes to claim is my first ever tattoo, which it is not. I saw that interview Raquel.

It was my second. I got it on my leg. She came with me and my family to get tattoos. And, um, oh, wrong one. Wrong leg. Like, I've got so many. I got so many. But me and my sister got, um, kind of matching, kind of not matching tattoos.

It's like the pinky promise. Yeah. She got like the real nice, like, lady petite hands on her arm. and I got the skeleton and the man hand because we're just completely different aesthetics. But I got that and then my sister got that. And then I think Raquel, she got something. I can't remember what she got.

It's a great man. My memory is not good. Oh, thanks. Is that a real tree? I think it is. I think so. Right? Yeah.

It's the born dead clothing brand. These were actually mats. He bought them for himself and then hated them on him. Like, I'll take them? Score. I'll take it. They fit me. So I love it when your husband buys clothes for himself and they don't fit.

So you steal them? Oh, man. Thank you so much for making this happen. No, no worries. This was so much fun. I'm going to ask you the question. I ask everybody at the end because gratitude means so much to me in my life. What are three things that you're grateful for as we sit here right now?

Three things that I'm grateful for, man. There's a lot that I'm grateful for. It's like hard to narrow it down to three things. I think one of them would be obviously my husband mixed in with my dogs because they're my family away from everything that I know, which is Australia. They have really like made me love where I am in my current life and just like made my home a home. Like Matt, Luna, Barry, Bella, they are my home. It doesn't really matter where we are as long as I. have them, I'm good.

Like, Matt is the best husband that I could ever ask for. He does absolutely everything for me. So I'm really, really, really grateful for him and everything that he does and how he makes me feel. So that would be number one. Number two, I would probably say, my family, just in general. I don't know if you want to put that into number one. It's your list.

But, like, my family, they are so. supportive of everything that I do. Like, even though, like, my mom and my dad didn't like the fact that I wanted to start wrestling, once I started and they saw how happy I was having my first entrance, they were like, oh, she's, like, really enjoying it. Like, we were here for whatever she wants to do. And they were like that with every sport that I played. I played soccer for nine years, and they were there every single game yelling at me

from the side and just, like, mom would do this thing where she'd be like, run, Bennett, run. And it just made me run so much faster for some reason. And it's just like they're always like there. They're like my cheerleaders and they're just so supportive and they want to be a part of everything that I do and they want to show how proud they are of everything that I accomplished. So they're definitely like they're in there for sure. And then I'm grateful for my journey and my fans. It's been a really, really rough ride to get to where I am today.

And the people that have supported me every step of the way, they have made my life so much better and so much easier and they have really like skyrocketed me to the point that I'm at now because if it wasn't for the crowd at full sale getting behind me, I don't know where my career would be. It could be completely different place. I could be back in Australia. There was so many times at the PC where I was like, I'm about to throw in the boots. I want to go home. I quit. Like I don't want to do this anymore. I miss my family. I miss all this. and then I'd go out there and I hear them and see their support and, like, feel that feeling that I would get from being at home with my family.

I'm like, okay, well, these guys are like, they're helping me get through this really crappy situation that I'm going through, but they don't even realize that they're doing that. So I'm really grateful for my fans, even though my moshes are some of the most feral, disgusting, crazy people that I have ever experienced in my life. I love them so much with my entire heart. I really do. They're one of a kind individuals, and I love them. But yeah, probably just like my moshes and the overcoming of everything to get to where I am today.

What a great way to end it. Thank you again for making this happen. No worries. Thanks for having me. Such a good one. Huge thank you to Ria Ripley for sitting down with us for this one in New York City. And thank you for being here and for listening all the way. until the end. I mean, how can you not love Ria Ripley? What a great conversation that was.

And I just can't wait to see what's next for her. Speaking in New York City, the next Insight Live is happening on Friday, August 1st. The day before SummerSlam, there's still some VIP tickets left, or perhaps I should say CVVIP tickets, which include a special Ask CVV before the show and a meet and greet after the show. Grab them now at CVVTix.com. That's CVVTIX.com. We covered a ton in this interview, but let me know what stood out for you the most. Let me know what spoke to you the most from this conversation. Snap a screenshot and tag us. She's at Ria Ripley underscore WWE on Instagram and X. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and we'll wrap this up with a quote from Norman Vincent Peel.

The more you practice the art of gratitude, the more you have to be grateful for. Be great and be grateful, my friends. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight. We've got a lot to unpack on Ask CVV number 89 tomorrow. My goodness, the John Cena pipe bomb, King of the Ring, Queen of the Ring, Knight of Champions.

Get those questions in and I will see you right back here tomorrow to hang out with you on a Friday and wrap up the way. week. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. Back in the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock, but there was one band that had it all. Hammer Alley.

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