Rhea Ripley has acknowledged the pressure she feels heading into her WrestleMania 42 match with Jade Cargill, saying she is aware of her responsibility to elevate the champion and help her reach a new level on the grandest stage of them all.
Speaking on The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show, Ripley was candid about the unique dynamic of going into a WrestleMania title match against a performer with comparatively limited in-ring experience and what that means for how she approaches the bout.
“I do, I definitely do feel the pressure,” Ripley said. “I feel like this is a match that a lot of people have wanted for a long time, especially at WrestleMania. There’s already so much pressure going into that day and into that match. And then also going off of last year, it was the same at WrestleMania 39 when I faced Charlotte. Then going into WrestleMania 40 I was like, I have to do just as well as I did the year before. But now stepping in with someone that has only had limited experience within the wrestling industry compared to a lot of people on the show, I do have that pressure to kind of uplift her and bring her to a different level so we can go out there and we can make magic just like everyone expects from us. We’ll see what happens. It’s unpredictable, wrestling is so unpredictable. Anything can really happen. But I know I’m going to go out there and give it 110% and try and get her to try new things and like level up her own game.”
Ripley also addressed what it has been like to compete without a championship since losing the Women’s World title, saying she still carries herself like a champion regardless of whether she is holding gold.
“I feel kind of naked in a way without it,” Ripley said. “But I don’t mind not having a title because every time I walk through the curtain and walk onto the stage in front of everyone, I feel like a champion. I don’t need a title to represent how dominant I am in WWE. That being said, at WrestleMania, yeah, I will be getting a title.”
Ripley earned her championship opportunity by winning the Elimination Chamber match and will challenge Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 42, which takes place April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
