10 Ups & 6 Downs For WWE In 2023 (So Far)

3. Rhea Ripley’s Redemption

WWE WrestleMania 39 Rhea Ripley
WWE.com

A critically-derided loss to Charlotte Flair in 2020 sent Rhea Ripley spiralling a bit, but she's recovered to stand tall as a powerhouse even Chyna would quake in her boots at. Rhea's role in Judgment Day is strong, and she's experienced a lot of success this year already.

January's Royal Rumble win and her 'Mania 39 title triumph both hit hard.

Ripley has even managed to sidestep speed bump-style challengers by first bringing the best out in underdog Zelina Vega at Backlash and then squashing the veteran Natalya at Night Of Champions. She's on a real roll, and things would be even rosier if WWE could only sort out the post-Draft title confusion.

Incredibly, it doesn't look like Rhea is going to let that mess wreck the quite-excellent time she's having on top of the world. She's blossomed into the star best-placed to take women's wrestling through the rest of the decade.

Here's to more.

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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.