10 New Directions For WWE After Royal Rumble 2023

5. Rhea Ripley Chasing Down Bianca Belair

Sami Zayn WWE Universal Title
WWE.com

The clock is ticking on Bianca Belair's reign as the queen of Raw's female ranks.

Rhea Ripley's sensational #1-to-finish showing on Saturday pretty much confirmed that she's next in line to seize the throne, grab that Raw Women's Title and become the female star of WWE's 2023. Few will grumble about that, because Ripley has been fab as part of Judgment Day.

Her time is near, and that's just the way it is! It'll be interesting to see what WWE does with Rhea now that she's locked in for 'Mania though. Will she spin off into another chapter of hate vs. Beth Phoenix and Edge, or will she be kept largely separate from that during the build to April?

Belair will probs be tasked with defending her title in an Elimination Chamber match next month, then proper hype can begin for what announcers will defo call her biggest challenge yet. It's been fun, Bianca, but it's time for someone new at the top.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.