Demi Bennett was born on 11 October 1996 inAdelaide, South Australia.[3][4] She is of Italian descent through her mother's side.[5] Bennett grew up in the beachside Adelaide suburb ofGlenelg and attendedHenley High School throughout her teenage years.[6]
Professional wrestling career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Bennett began to work inRiot City Wrestling in 2013.[7] She spent several years in the promotion, where she became a two-time RCW Women's Champion.[4] Bennett's New Horizon Pro Wrestling debut was made on 24 May 2014 during the opening night of the NHPW Global Conflict where she joined the Global Conflict Tournament. She was eliminated during the first round of the tournament byMercedes Martinez.[8] She returned for the second night of the NHPW Global Conflict event, competing in a four way mixed tag team match paired with Garry Schmidt.[8] Six months later, Bennett returned and was part of the opening night of the NHPW Final Chapter event, wrestling a Four Way Match againstMadison Eagles,Evie andSaraya Knight with the vacant IndyGurlz Australia Championship at stake. However, Bennett did not win the title.[8]
Bennett made herMelbourne City Wrestling debut on 14 June 2014 at MCW New Horizons where she defended the RCW Women's title in a Three Way match against Savannah Summers andToni Storm.[9] On 9 August at MCW Clash Of The Titans, Bennett defeated Miami to retain her Women's Championship.[10] Bennett continued her winning streak with a third consecutive victory, defeating Savannah Summers at MCW Fight For A Cause.[citation needed]
On 22 April 2017, Bennett wrestled her last RCW match at RCW Strength where she successfully defended the Women's title against Kellyanne.[11]
WWE
Mae Young Classic (2017–2018)
In 2017, Bennett signed with WWE, and it was announced that she would compete in theinaugural Mae Young Classic under the new name "Rhea Ripley".[12] She defeated Miranda Salinas in the first round but lost toDakota Kai in the second round.[13][14]Ripley made her NXT television debut on 25 October 2017 episode ofNXT, participating in a battle royal to determine one of the contenders for the vacantNXT Women's Championship atTakeOver: WarGames on 18 November, which was won byNikki Cross.[15] Sporting a new look, Ripley competed in the2018 Mae Young Classic in 2018, displaying a new aggressive and disrespectful attitude. She defeatedMJ Jenkins,Kacy Catanzaro, andTegan Nox in her first three matches but lost toIo Shirai in the semi-finals.[16][17]
Inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion (2018–2019)
Ripley in April 2019
Shortly after the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Ripley became part of theNXT UKbrand as part of the premiere of the newly createdNXT UK show.During thetelevision tapings of the show in August (that aired throughout November), Ripley took part in an eight-woman tournament to determine the inauguralNXT UK Women's Champion.[18] She defeatedXia Brookside in the first round,Dakota Kai in the semi-finals, andToni Storm in the finals to become the inaugural champion.[19][20][21][22] With the win, Ripley became the first female Australian champion in WWE history, and the second Australian champion altogether afterBuddy Murphy.[23] Ripley also competed in adark match before the first ever all women's pay–per–view,Evolution, on 28 October, where she successfully retained her title against Dakota Kai (due to the tournament having yet to air at the time, she was not yet recognized on-screen as champion).[24] Throughout her championship reign, Ripley went on to fend off title contenders such asIsla Dawn andDeonna Purrazzo.[25][26]
On 12 January 2019 atNXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Ripley lost her title toToni Storm, ending her reign at 139 days and marking her first defeat in the brand.[27] At theRoyal Rumble event on 27 January, Ripley made her first appearance on a main roster pay-per-view by entering the women'sRoyal Rumble match at #24, eliminating Kacy Catanzaro,Dana Brooke, andZelina Vega before being eliminated byBayley. Afterwards, Ripley feuded with the debutingPiper Niven for most of 2019 over which one was the most dominant woman in the NXT UK roster.[28] The two faced off in a match on 15 June (aired 3 July), where Niven defeated Ripley.[29] Ripley defeated Niven in a rematch on 31 August (aired 4 September); the two would eventually team up after Ripley saved Niven from an attack byJazzy Gabert andJinny, whom they defeated in a tag team match on 4 October.[30] Ripley wrestled her last match in the brand on 5 October 2019 tapings ofNXT UK, defeating Nina Samuels.[31]
NXT Women's Champion (2019–2021)
Ripley performing her signature hand gesture in September 2019
On 28 August 2019 episode ofNXT, Ripley made her surprise return to the brand when she interruptedNXT Women's ChampionShayna Baszler, stating that Baszler may have beaten everyone on NXT, but not her, turningface and beginning a feud between the two in the process.[32] In parallel to her feud against Baszler, on 1 November episode ofSmackDown, Ripley andTegan Nox were one of the manyNXT wrestlers to invade the show, challengingMandy Rose andSonya Deville to a tag team match, from which Ripley and Nox emerged victorious. Later that night, Ripley joinedTriple H and the rest of theNXT roster as they declared war on bothRaw andSmackDown, and vowed to win the2019 Survivor Series brand warfare.[33][34] As part of the ongoing storyline, she defeated both Raw'sCharlotte Flair and SmackDown'sSasha Banks in atriple threat match on 22 November episode ofSmackDown.[35]
On 18 December episode ofNXT, Ripley defeated Baszler to win theNXT Women's Championship, making her the first person to have won both the NXT Women's and NXT UK Women's Championships.[39][40] She then successfully defended the title againstToni Storm on 25 January 2020 atWorlds Collide.[41]
Ripley made an appearance on 3 February 2020 episode ofRaw, confrontingRoyal Rumble winnerCharlotte Flair and suggesting that Flair should use her Royal Rumble title opportunity to challenge Ripley for the NXT Women's Championship atWrestleMania 36.[35] Flair appeared in the following episode ofNXT to give her answer, but was interrupted by both Bianca Belair, Ripley's future title contender atTakeOver: Portland, and Ripley herself, with the two eventually teaming up and attacking Flair.[42] At the aforementioned event on 16 February, Ripley successfully defended the championship against Belair, and was attacked by Flair, who accepted Ripley's challenge.[43] Ripley then lost the title to Flair on the second night ofWrestleMania 36 on 5 April. The day after WrestleMania, WWE announced that Ripley took a hiatus from WWE and returned to Australia due to her visa issues.[44] Ripley returned on 6 May episode ofNXT after Flair got herself disqualified in an NXT Women's Championship match against Io Shirai by attacking Flair. A backstage interview with Ripley and Shirai was shown afterward where they began arguing and eventually brawling to be separated by officials.[45] On 7 June atTakeOver: In Your House, Ripley and Flair both lost to Io Shirai in a triple threat match for the NXT Women's Championship. On 18 November episode ofNXT, Ripley challenged Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship, but was unsuccessful.[46]
On 22 February episode ofRaw, a video package aired hyping up Ripley's arrival to the brand.[50] Ripley made her main roster debut on 22 March episode ofRaw, challengingAsuka for theRaw Women's Championship atWrestleMania 37, which she accepted.[51][52] At Night 2 of WrestleMania 37 on 11 April, Ripley defeated Asuka to win the Raw Women's Championship.[53] On the following episode ofRaw, Ripley defended the title in a rematch against Asuka, which ended in a no-contest after interference from Charlotte Flair, who attacked both Asuka and Ripley.[54] On 3 May episode ofRaw, a rematch between Ripley and Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship was scheduled forWrestleMania Backlash, but WWE officialSonya Deville added Flair to the match to make it a triple threat match.[55] At the event on 16 May, Ripley successfully defended her title by pinning Asuka.[56] AtHell in a Cell on 20 June, Flair defeated Ripley bydisqualification, thus Ripley retained her title.[57] AtMoney in the Bank on 18 July, Ripley dropped the title to Flair, ending her reign at 98 days.[58] She failed to regain the title in a triple threat match against the championNikki A. S. H. and Flair atSummerSlam on 21 August.[59]
On 20 September episode ofRaw, Ripley and A. S. H. defeatedNatalya andTamina to win theWWE Women's Tag Team Championship.[60] They successfully defended the titles in a rematch on 4 October episode ofRaw.[61] On 22 November episode ofRaw, Ripley and A. S. H. lost the titles toCarmella andQueen Zelina, ending their reign at 63 days.[62] Their partnership ended on 10 January 2022 episode ofRaw when A. S. H. attacked Ripley.[63] In March, Ripley began teaming withLiv Morgan, challenging for the Women's Tag Team Championship in afatal four-way tag team match on Night 2 ofWrestleMania 38 on 3 April in a losing effort.[64][65] On 18 April episode ofRaw, they faced the championsSasha Banks andNaomi for the titles, but lost. After the match, Ripley attacked Morgan, ending their partnership and turningheel for the first time on the main roster.[66]
The Judgment Day and Grand Slam Champion (2022–2024)
AtWrestleMania Backlash on 8 May, Ripley costAJ Styles his match againstEdge and was revealed as a member ofThe Judgment Day.[67] AtHell in a Cell on 5 June, The Judgment Day (Edge,Damian Priest, and Ripley) defeated Styles,Finn Bálor, andLiv Morgan in asix-person mixed tag team match.[68] The next night onRaw, Edge introduced Bálor as the newest member of The Judgment Day; Bálor, Priest, and Ripley suddenly attacked Edge, kicking him out of the stable.[69] Later that night, Ripley won a fatal four-way match to become the number one contender forBianca Belair's Raw Women's Championship atMoney in the Bank on 2 July.[70][71] However, she was pulled out of the match after being not medically cleared to compete and was replaced by Carmella.[72]
The stable feuded withthe Mysterios (Rey andDominik) in an attempt to recruit Dominik into their ranks.[73][74][75] This led to a match atClash at the Castle on 3 September, where Balor and Priest lost to Rey and Edge. After the match, Dominik attacked Edge and Rey, turning heel and joining The Judgment Day.[76] As part of The Judgment Day, Dominik took on a gimmick mirroring Eddie Guerrero'sLatino Heat while together with Ripley, with Ripley calling herself Dominik's "Mami". On 8 October, atExtreme Rules, Dominik, Priest, and Ripley helped Bálor defeat Edge in an"I Quit" match. After the match, Ripley attacked Edge's wife,Beth Phoenix, with a con-chair-to.[77] AtCrown Jewel on 5 November, Bálor, Priest, and Dominik defeatedThe O.C. (Styles,Luke Gallows, andKarl Anderson) in asix-man tag team match after interference from Ripley.[78] On the following episode ofRaw, The O.C. introduced the returningMia Yim as their solution to counter Ripley.[79] Ripley would temporarily ally herself withDamage CTRL in the leadup toSurvivor Series WarGames, after Yim had joined the opposing team.[80] At the event on 26 November, Ripley's team lost to Yim's team in aWarGames match afterBecky Lynch pinnedDakota Kai.[81] On the following episode ofRaw, The Judgment Day defeated The O.C. in an eight-person mixed tag team match to end their feud.[82]
At theRoyal Rumble on 28 January 2023, Ripley appeared at ringside during the men'sRoyal Rumble match to assist her stablemates in their attack on Edge, only to be speared by Edge's wife, Beth Phoenix. Later that night, Ripley won the women's Royal Rumble match from the #1 spot by last eliminatingLiv Morgan, who entered the match as #2. With this victory, Ripley became the fourth wrestler (afterShawn Michaels in 1995,Chris Benoit in 2004, and Edge in 2021) and the first woman to win the Royal Rumble as the first entrant. She also spent the longest time in a women's Royal Rumble match at 1:01:08; Morgan was officially recorded as lasting one second less.[83] On the following episode ofRaw, Ripley declared that she would challengeCharlotte Flair for theSmackDown Women's Championship atWrestleMania 39.[84] On Night 1 of WrestleMania 39 on 1 April, Ripley defeated Flair to win the title in a critically acclaimed match. With this win, Ripley became the seventhWomen's Triple Crown champion, the fifthWomen's Grand Slam champion, and the youngestgrand slam champion (male or female) in WWE history at 26.[85]
AtBacklash on 6 May, Ripley successfully defended the SmackDown Women's Championship in her first title defense againstZelina Vega.[86] AtNight of Champions on 27 May, Ripley retained the title againstNatalya in asquash match that lasted 70 seconds.[87] On 12 June episode ofRaw, the SmackDown Women's Championship was renamed to the Women's World Championship and Ripley was presented a brand-new championship belt.[88] On 3 July episode ofRaw, Ripley defeated Natalya once again to retain the title.[89] AtPayback on 2 September, Ripley helped Bálor and Priest win theUndisputed WWE Tag Team Championship after spearingKevin Owens through the barricade. Later that night, Ripley retained her title againstRaquel Rodriguez after a distraction from Dominik.[90] On 11 September episode ofRaw, Ripley defeated Rodriguez in a rematch to retain the title after interference from the returningNia Jax, who attacked Ripley after the match.[91] AtCrown Jewel on 4 November, Ripley defeated Jax, Rodriguez,Zoey Stark andShayna Baszler, who Ripley pinned, to retain her title in afatal five-way match.[92] AtSurvivor Series WarGames on 25 November, Ripley defeated Stark to retain her title.[93] AtDay 1 on 1 January, Ripley defeatedIvy Nile to retain the title.[94]
On 24 February, atElimination Chamber: Perth in her home country of Australia, Ripley successfully defended her title against Jax in the main event.[95] On Night 1 ofWrestleMania XL on 6 April, Ripley defeated Becky Lynch to retain the title.[96]
Feud with Liv Morgan and Judgment Day's betrayal (2024–2025)
On 8 April episode ofRaw, Ripley was attacked in a backstage segment by Liv Morgan, during which Ripley legitimately injured her right arm and was forced to vacate the championship the following week, ending her reign at 380 days, tyingBayley's record as the longest-reigning Women's World Champion.[97][98] During Ripley's absence, the storyline continued when Morgan began seducing Dominik, who resisted Morgan's efforts, but accidentally helped her win the Women's World Championship from Lynch atKing & Queen of the Ring.[99] Morgan also began interfering in The Judgment Day's matches to their advantage.[100] After a three-month hiatus, Ripley returned on 8 July episode ofRaw, confronting Morgan and Dominik.[101]
AtSummerSlam on 3 August, Ripley was unsuccessful in regaining the title from Morgan after interference from Dominik, giving Ripley her first pinfall loss since May 2022. After the match, Dominik turned on Ripley and kissed Morgan, ending their partnership and fully turning Ripleyface for the first time since April 2022.[102] On the following episode ofRaw, Bálor officially kicked Priest and Ripley out of the group, and followed up with the introduction of the "new" Judgment Day, consisting of himself, Dominik,JD McDonagh, and the new additions of bothCarlito (who became an associate member of the group during Ripley's hiatus now an official member) and Morgan. Later that night, during Priest's match against McDonagh, he was ambushed by Bálor and the rest of The Judgment Day, until Ripley came out to save him. Priest and Ripley would afterwards embrace each other, staying together as a team and going by their unofficial tag team name,The Terror Twins.[103] AtBash in Berlin on 31 August, Ripley and Priest defeated Mysterio and Morgan despite interference from The Judgment Day, with Ripley pinning Morgan.[104] AtBad Blood on 5 October, Ripley defeated Morgan by disqualification after being attacked by the returningRaquel Rodriguez. However, since championships do not change hands via disqualification or countout unless otherwise stipulated, Morgan remained champion.[105]
On 29 October episode ofNXT, Ripley was attacked by Morgan and Rodriguez in theWWE Performance Center parking lot.[106] This was reportedly done to write her off television due to a legitimate orbital bone injury suffered the previous week; the injury was announced by WWE the next day and attributed in storyline to the attack.[107][108] On 18 November episode ofRaw, Ripley made a surprise return wearing a protective face shield, challenging the opposition to aWarGames match.[109] AtSurvivor Series WarGames on 30 November, Ripley,Bianca Belair,Bayley,Iyo Sky andNaomi defeated Morgan, Rodriguez,Nia Jax,Tiffany Stratton andCandice LeRae in aWarGames match, with Ripley pinning Morgan.[110]
Women's World Champion (2025–present)
On theRaw premiere on Netflix on 6 January 2025, Ripley defeated Morgan to win the Women's World Championship for the second time despite interference from Dominik and Rodriguez, ending their feud.[111] AtSaturday Night's Main Event on 25 January, Ripley defeatedNia Jax to retain the title in her first title defense.[112] On the 3 March episode ofRaw, Ripley lost the title toIyo Sky after being distracted byElimination Chamber match winnerBianca Belair, ending her second reign at 56 days.[113]
As of 2022, she has been in a relationship with fellow Australian wrestler Matthew Adams, known professionally asBuddy Matthews.[123] In August 2023, Bennett and Adams got engaged, and in June 2024, they married.[124][125]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
