What Happened to Rhea Ripley?
Rhea Ripley, born Demi Bennett, is an Australian professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where she is the reigning WWE Women's Champion on the SmackDown brand. Known for her dominant in-ring style and 'Mami' persona, Ripley has achieved Grand Slam and Triple Crown Champion status, consistently remaining one of WWE's top female stars despite navigating several injuries and personal challenges in recent years.
Quick Answer
Rhea Ripley is currently the WWE Women's Champion on the SmackDown brand, having defeated Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 on April 18, 2026. She recently moved to SmackDown with the title and is embroiled in a rivalry with Cargill's faction, 'The Storm.' Ripley has faced several injury scares and revealed in April 2026 that she is actively managing an eating disorder, yet she continues to maintain a prominent role in WWE's women's division.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline18 events
Professional Wrestling Debut
Demi Bennett begins her professional wrestling career in Australian independent promotions like Riot City Wrestling (RCW).
WWE Debut in Mae Young Classic
Bennett signs with WWE and debuts as 'Rhea Ripley' in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, reaching the second round.
Inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion
Ripley makes history by defeating Toni Storm in the finals of a tournament to become the first-ever NXT UK Women's Champion.
NXT Women's Champion
Ripley defeats Shayna Baszler to win the NXT Women's Championship, marking a significant moment in NXT history.
Raw Women's Champion
Ripley defeats Asuka at WrestleMania 37 to capture the Raw Women's Championship, her first main roster singles title.
Joins The Judgment Day
Ripley aligns herself with Edge and Damian Priest, becoming a founding member of the villainous faction, The Judgment Day, which elevates her 'Mami' persona.
Wins Women's Royal Rumble
Ripley wins the 2023 Women's Royal Rumble match as the number one entrant, earning a championship match at WrestleMania.
SmackDown Women's Champion (later Women's World Champion)
Ripley defeats Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to win the SmackDown Women's Championship, later renamed the Women's World Championship, becoming a Grand Slam and Triple Crown Champion.
Relinquishes Women's World Championship
Ripley is forced to vacate the Women's World Championship due to an injury.
Regains Women's World Championship
Ripley makes a triumphant return and regains the Women's World Championship on the Raw on Netflix premiere.
Suffers Broken Nose
Ripley breaks her nose during a WWE tour in Japan and is subsequently forced to wear a protective mask.
Wins Elimination Chamber, Suffers Eye Injury
Ripley wins the Women's Elimination Chamber match to earn a WrestleMania 42 title shot, but also sustains an eye injury during a match with Giulia on SmackDown.
Hospital Visit for Injury
Ahead of WrestleMania 42, Ripley reveals she had a hospital visit for a significant cut that required stitches.
Reveals Eating Disorder Battle
Ripley publicly discloses that she is actively dealing with an eating disorder, addressing ongoing speculation about her physique.
Wins WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 42
Ripley defeats Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 to become the new WWE Women's Champion.
Moves to SmackDown as Champion
As the new WWE Women's Champion, Rhea Ripley officially moves to the SmackDown brand.
Attacked by The Storm
On SmackDown, Ripley is attacked by Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab, initiating a new rivalry with the faction known as 'The Storm.'
Scheduled Six-Woman Tag Match
Ripley is scheduled to team with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss against Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab at 'Saturday Night's Main Event.'
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Rhea Ripley, real name Demi Bennett, embarked on her professional wrestling journey in Australia in 2013 before signing with WWE in 2017. Her early WWE career saw her make an impact in the Mae Young Classic and quickly rise through the ranks of NXT UK, where she became the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion in 2018. Her dominance continued in NXT, culminating in a reign as NXT Women's Champion in 2019, solidifying her as a formidable force.
Ripley's transition to WWE's main roster in 2021 brought further success, including a Raw Women's Championship reign and a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. A pivotal turning point came in 2022 when she joined The Judgment Day, a villainous faction that allowed her 'Mami' persona to flourish, significantly boosting her popularity and character depth. This period saw her become a central figure on Monday Night Raw, often involved in intergender storylines that highlighted her unique appeal.
Her career reached new heights in 2023, winning the Women's Royal Rumble match as the number one entrant and subsequently defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship, which was later renamed the Women's World Championship. This victory made her a WWE Women's Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion. She enjoyed a lengthy reign, holding the title for 380 days, tying for the longest singular reign of that championship.
The period between late 2024 and early 2026 presented several challenges for Ripley. She was forced to relinquish the Women's World Championship in April 2024 due to injury but remarkably regained it on January 6, 2025, on the Raw on Netflix premiere. Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, Ripley dealt with a broken nose requiring a protective mask, an eye injury, and a back injury sustained at the Royal Rumble 2026. Despite these physical setbacks, she continued to compete at a high level, winning the 2026 Women's Elimination Chamber match to secure a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42.
Leading up to WrestleMania 42, Ripley also revealed a personal struggle, admitting on April 16, 2026, that she is actively dealing with an eating disorder, shifting public focus from speculation about her physique to her health journey. At WrestleMania 42 on April 18, 2026, Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women's Championship. Following this victory, she moved to the SmackDown brand, where she is currently the reigning champion. Her current status involves a heated rivalry with Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab, collectively known as 'The Storm,' with a six-woman tag team match scheduled for May 23, 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Rhea Ripley made different choices?