The pressure of performing on wrestling’s biggest stage can break even the toughest superstars. Rhea Ripley’s dominant run as Women’s World Champion looked unstoppable from the outside, but behind the scenes, “Mami” was battling demons that nearly overwhelmed her before her WrestleMania 40 showdown with Becky Lynch.
When Champions Crumble: The Hidden Battle Before Bell Time
WrestleMania 40’s opening night kicked off with championship gold on the line, but neither competitor entered at full strength. While Becky Lynch battled through a brutal case of strep throat that had plagued her all week, Ripley faced an invisible opponent that proved just as dangerous.
The Australian powerhouse recently opened up about experiencing a full-blown panic attack before stepping through the curtain at Lincoln Financial Field. What should have been a career-defining moment nearly became her worst nightmare.
During her appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Ripley peeled back the curtain on the mental warfare she endured that night.
The Weight of Expectation: When Self-Doubt Meets the Grandest Stage
Championship reigns often look glamorous from the crowd’s perspective, but Ripley’s candid confession reveals the crushing psychological pressure that comes with carrying a division.
“I feel that pressure all the time. I’ve said it before, but WrestleMania 40 against Becky Lynch, I was terrified. I worked 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, they weren’t my responsibilities.”
The champion’s perfectionist mindset became her enemy. Knowing Lynch was battling illness, Ripley felt compelled to overcompensate, pushing herself to an impossible 110% effort level.
Ring Rust Meets Championship Pressure
Ripley’s honesty about her in-ring activity during her title reign struck a nerve with wrestling observers. Champions often face criticism for limited match frequency, but few understand the psychological toll this creates.
“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, then I got self conscious.”
The fear of criticism consumed her thoughts. Ripley worried about becoming another target for wrestling’s harshest critics, who often label successful wrestlers as “overpushed” or undeserving.
Social Media Bullies vs. Creative Decisions: Setting the Record Straight
Wrestling fans on social media quickly pointed fingers at Triple H’s booking philosophy after Ripley’s interview surfaced. Many blamed WWE’s creative direction for not featuring their champion in enough matches.
But Ripley wasn’t having it. The champion fired back directly, defending her boss while calling out the real culprits behind her confidence crisis.
“He’s 100% not to blame. The stupid bully mentality of some people on social media is the blame. Them and the ones that think they can do our jobs better than us, even though they have no experience in this profession or experience in real life.”
The Real Enemy: Keyboard Warriors and Armchair Bookers
Ripley’s response highlights a growing problem in professional wrestling. Social media has given every fan a platform to critique, often crossing lines from constructive criticism into personal attacks.
Her frustration with “armchair bookers” – fans who constantly second-guess creative decisions without industry experience – resonates throughout the wrestling community. These voices often drown out genuine appreciation for performers’ hard work.
From Panic to Performance: The Champion’s Resilience
Despite her pre-match mental struggles, Ripley successfully defended her championship that night. The match received positive reviews from fans and critics, proving that sometimes our biggest fears exist only in our minds.
Her willingness to discuss mental health challenges openly adds another layer to her “Mami” persona. Champions dealing with anxiety and self-doubt become more relatable, showing that even the strongest competitors face internal battles.
Rhea Ripley’s brutal honesty about WrestleMania 40 should spark important conversations about performer mental health and fan responsibility. When champions feel more pressure from social media criticism than actual in-ring competition, something needs to change. Will wrestling fans take her message to heart, or will the cycle of online negativity continue to affect the performers we claim to support?
