Report: Rhea Ripley Returns To Australia As US Work Visa Expires

Did this play a role in Ripley dropping the NXT Women's Championship?

by Andy H Murray
Rhea Ripley
WWE.com

Rhea Ripley has been forced to return to her native Australia after the expiration of her United States working visa.

This report comes to us from PWInsider's Mike Johnson, who writes that 'The Nightmare' headed back to her homeland on Monday. She will need to renew her visa before she's able to return to work in the US, which could prove very, very tricky at the moment, given what's currently going on around the world.

Ripley dropped her NXT Women's Championship to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 this past weekend. There's no word on whether or not her visa situation played a role in this, though her being unable to appear on NXT television for the foreseeable future suggests it may have.

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Rhea is yet to comment on the situation herself.

One of 2019's biggest breakout stars in WWE, Ripley put on a tremendous, hard-hitting match with Flair at 'Mania. It was one of her more impressive showings in the promotion and, in spite of the loss, a sign of great things to come in her future. Now, it looks like her career will be put on ice.

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Here's hoping Ripley is able to resolve the situation and return before too long.

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.