10 Most Exciting Young Prodigies In WWE & AEW Right Now

3. Rhea Ripley

Rhea Ripley
WWE

Abysmal character portrayal has blotted Rhea Ripley's copybook in 2020.

Closing 2019 with a cathartic NXT Women's Title victory over the dominant Shayna Baszler should have brought further peaks, not valleys. The aftermath saw 'The Nightmare' become a generic, overawed "just so happy for this opportunity!" goober babyface, undermining the sick badassery that made her stand out. Then came the WrestleMania 36 loss to Charlotte Flair. An outstanding match, and Ripley could absolutely have recovered with the right booking, though the promotion decided the best course of action was to have her literally crying on the locker-room floor. After that? A listless feud with a Tony Khan parody act.

A dismal year by any standards, though Rhea is still only 23 years old. She has a long, prosperous career ahead of her and is fortunately in a position where she can endure such drudgery without it coming to define her.

Better days surely lie ahead for a believable mauler who talks as well as she fights, particularly as WWE is yet to promote a big-time singles match between Ripley and Io Shirai.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.