Rhea Ripley Explains Reason Behind Her Evolving WWE Look Over the Years

Former Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley has revealed the personal struggles that led to her distinctive appearance in WWE. During a recent appearance on “Stephanie’s Places,” Ripley discussed how moments of profound self-doubt ultimately served as the catalyst for her visual transformation.

It got me to a point where I sat down with myself one day and thought, ‘You need to be better, you need to be yourself, and you need to prove people wrong.’ And, you know, prove yourself wrong ultimately as well. And it’s going to start with what’s the most uncomfortable thing you find in yourself. And for me, it was the way I looked.

The turning point for Ripley came after her participation in the 2017 Mae Young Classic tournament. At that time, she sported blonde hair and a dramatically different look from her current presentation. Ripley admitted she cried before her match in the tournament and contemplated abandoning her WWE aspirations to return to Australia.

Her current appearance draws inspiration from several rock bands she follows, including Motionless in White, Papa Roach, and Of Mice and Men. Ripley noted that members of these bands “look scary but are very sweet people,” a contrast she connected with personally.

Ripley summarized her transformation decisively:

I cut my hair. I changed my outfit. I had a new attitude. I didn’t care what people thought of me anymore. I went out there and did what felt right to me. I felt like I was finally becoming the person I was supposed to be.