10 New Directions For WWE After WrestleMania Backlash 2022

8. Rhea Ripley = Raw’s Top Heel

Edge Rhea Ripley
WWE

It might've been one of WWE's worst-kept-secrets of 2022, but Rhea Ripley linking up with Edge and Damian Priest in the Judgement Day faction makes perfect sense. She was going absolutely nowhere in tag-teams with the likes of Nikki A.S.H and Liv Morgan, and that had to change.

Seeing Rhea look to Edge as her leader is pretty sweet.

This booking represents hope for Ripley. She should parlay 'Mania Backlash's reveal into a major heel run on top of the Raw women's division. Now, that doesn't mean WWE needs to move on from Bianca Belair as champion right now, but they should start making plans for Rhea's coronation.

Edge's group will start racking up titles (because that's what villainous stables do) sooner rather than later. It'd be a bit of a letdown if this opportunity passed Ripley by and didn't lead to the stardom she's always merited on the company flagship.

Let her be a bad ass, please.

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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.