At the 2023 Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley enjoyed what was arguably the biggest night of her career.
Ripley entered the women’s Rumble match at number one still feeling the effects of a huge Spear from Beth Phoenix after she tried to make her presence felt as Judgment Day brawled with Edge. Despite this, and after suffering a legitimate dislocated knee early on, Ripley fought her way past former champions, legends and returning stars to claim the win.
While winning the match itself is a serious accolade, the win also guaranteed Ripley a shot at championship gold at WrestleMania 39, but which title has she got her sights set on?
Rhea Ripley Calls Her Shot
Speaking on Raw, the Australian star said that three years ago when her career was just getting started she challenged Charlotte Flair and ended up being put in her place. Ripley said that somehow Flair is always at the top of her game and in the title picture, and she hates it.
The star then sent a message to Flair, telling her to enjoy everyone bowing down to The Queen because now everyone will be bowing down to her. Ripley ended with a simple message. “Charlotte Flair, I choose you.”
Elsewhere, men’s Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes had opened the show to address his own WrestleMania plans. Rhodes discussed how he felt on his first day in WWE and reflected on how his career had taken him all over the world and back again before landing at the Royal Rumble.
Rhodes said that after WrestleMania 39, Roman Reigns can call himself the Tribal Chief and the Head of the Table, but he won’t be called Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
After the promo, Rhodes was joined by Judgment Day. The trio of Dominik, Damain Priest, and Finn Balor, ran down Rhodes before the American Nightmare challenged them to a fight. The group was then jumped from behind by Edge sparking a brawl.