10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Rhea Ripley
8. The Delayed Save
Had there been less excruciating bits of over-produced pro wrestling television on NXT in early 2020, the Wednesday Night War might not have been as good as over before the global pandemic expedited things, but Full Sail was the home of far too many cack-handed, character-killing moments and Rhea Ripley fell victim in a big way on the road to WrestleMania 36.
The February 26th 2020 edition of NXT was one of the last before the restrictions of the time set in, and featured Royal Rumble winner and NXT interloper Charlotte Flair scoring a victory over obvious future breakout Bianca Belair. This in itself was a touch on the destructive side, but it paled in comparison to watching Flair batter 'The EST' in a post-match as Ripley elected to go through her entire entrance before making the save. The show itself was clearly on a clock too, and it very nearly looked as though it'd be off the air before the Champion actually made it to the ring.
It probably needs to be seen to be believed.
'The Nightmare' had scared 'The Queen' off, sort of, but couldn't look dafter in her efforts to do so. Suddenly, the match with Flair had stakes beyond just the belt around Ripley's waist. 'The Show Of Shows' needed a payoff that was as much about rehabilitation as revenge.
And about that...