Bayley has a lot of respect and admiration for Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.
At WrestleMania 40, the winner of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble was one of many Superstars to become a champion at the show as she defeated Iyo Sky to capture the Women’s Championship for a 4th time. Although many champions such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Gunther all saw their lengthy reigns come to an end in Philadelphia, Ripley continued her dominant run.
Kicking off the weekend, Ripley successfully defended the Women’s World Championship against Becky Lynch to repeat the success of the year prior. Still remaining on top and now the longest reigning champion in the company, Bayley has nothing but praise for The Eradicator.
Appearing at the WrestleMania press conference following her title win, Bayley credited Ripley for her incredible matches and commitment to the industry:
“Rhea is once in a lifetime. I get so jealous of her. First, I have so much respect for her because she works her butt off. You guys see Judgment Day on every single show like ten times throughout the night. That is not easy and sometimes not always fun. It’s very hard. I have all the respect for all the work she does. Plus, she puts on incredible matches. She’s so young, so athletic, she does one dropkick. I can’t do a dropkick to someone’s knees. Everything she does makes me mad [laughs].
I feel, as the time comes for the Four Horsewomen to lift the division up and get better and better, as we wanted to from the beginning, I’m glad it’s going to someone like Rhea Ripley and somebody like Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Zoey Stark. There are so many women itching to get out there. Candice LeRae is finally showing her face out there. All the girls in NXT. Roxanne Perez, Lyra [Lyra Valkyria]. This is exactly what we wanted. If she’s ready to take it on, I am very proud and I’m very glad to watch it happen, but, let me have my damn moment Rhea [sarcasm],”
Rhea Ripley Looks Back On Dream Come True Moment At WrestleMania
Given the Superstar treatment on The Grandest Stage, the Women’s World Champion was lucky enough to be played to the ring by Motionless in White. Looking back on the live rendition of her entrance, Rhea Ripley explained why it was a dream come true.
H/t to Fightful.