10 Reasons You Should STILL Be Excited For WrestleMania 36

7. Rhea Ripley Ascends

Rhea Ripley Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

WrestleMania 36 will likely see the making of Rhea Ripley as a big-time, major-league WWE star, as she cements her NXT Championship reign by defeating the franchise player for women's wrestling in WWE, Charlotte Flair.

There's always a chance the promotion will go LOLCHARLOTTEWINS when 'The Queen' steps through the ropes, admittedly, and it's a shame Ripley's big night won't go down in a raucous arena, but this feels like her moment. Besides, where's the sense in having Flair crossover to NXT at the moment? While the angles have been fine, she hasn't moved the needle, hasn't sparked mass interest for the product, and the division is strong enough without her.

Triumph here will shoot Rhea towards the elite pantheon of NXT Women's Champions, joining Asuka, Shayna Baszler, and more. On top of this, the match itself should rule. These are two big, powerful performers who lack little in physicality, with Ripley one of few fighters believably bad*ss and imposing enough to put Charlotte down. The quality ceiling is very, very high.

WWE presented NXT as a brand on equal footing with Raw and SmackDown at Survivor Series 2019 but stuttered afterwards. With Ripley vs. Flair, they'll get it back on track.

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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.