Rhea Ripley is one of the most dominant and successful female wrestlers in WWE history. She has won multiple championships, including the Women’s World Title, the NXT Women’s Title, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title. She is also the first Australian woman to win a WWE title and the first woman to win a Royal Rumble match as the number one entrant.
But who is Rhea Ripley outside the ring? What is her real name, where is she from, and who are her family members? And is she related to Viscera, the late WWE superstar who was known for his massive size and menacing presence?
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Rhea Ripley’s Real Name and Background
Rhea Ripley’s real name is Demi Bennett. She was born on October 11, 1996, in Adelaide, South Australia. She grew up watching wrestling with her brother and became a fan of Triple H, Lita, The Undertaker, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
She started training as a wrestler when she was 16 years old at Riot City Wrestling, a local promotion in Adelaide. She also competed in other Australian promotions, such as New Horizon Pro Wrestling and Melbourne City Wrestling. She won two RCW Women’s Championships and one IndyGurlz Australia Championship before signing with WWE in 2017.
Rhea Ripley’s WWE Career
Rhea Ripley made her WWE debut in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament in 2017, where she reached the second round. She returned for the second edition of the tournament in 2018 and advanced to the semifinals.
She also became part of the original roster of NXT UK, WWE’s brand for wrestlers from the United Kingdom and Europe. She made history by becoming the first-ever NXT UK Women’s Champion in August 2018, defeating Toni Storm in the finals of a tournament.
She moved to NXT, WWE’s developmental brand for up-and-coming wrestlers, in 2019. She quickly established herself as a top contender for the NXT Women’s Championship, which she won from Shayna Baszler in December 2019. She also became the first NXT wrestler to defend an NXT title at WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest annual event, when she faced Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36 in April 2020.
She was promoted to the main roster on Raw, WWE’s flagship show, in 2021. She joined The Judgment Day, a faction led by Seth Rollins that also includes Dominik Mysterio and Murphy. She won the Raw Women’s Championship from Asuka at WrestleMania 37 in April 2021. She also formed a tag team with Nikki A.S.H., winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from Natalya and Tamina in June 2021.
She was drafted to SmackDown, WWE’s other main show, in October 2021. She won the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks at Survivor Series in November 2021. She also won the Women’s Royal Rumble match in January 2022, earning a title shot at WrestleMania 38.
In April 2022, she defeated Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 to retain her SmackDown Women’s Championship and unify it with Lynch’s Raw Women’s Championship. The unified title was renamed as the Women’s World Championship in June 2022. She is currently still holding the title and has defended it against challengers such as Bianca Belair, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Liv Morgan.
Is Rhea Ripley Related to Viscera?
Viscera was a WWE wrestler who competed from 1993 to 2008 under various names and gimmicks, such as Mabel, King Mabel, Big Daddy V, and Big Vis. He was known for his enormous size (he weighed over 500 pounds) and his intimidating appearance (he often wore black leather outfits and had tattoos all over his body). He won several titles in WWE, such as the WWF Tag Team Championship (with Mo as Men on a Mission), the WWF Hardcore Championship (as Mabel), and the ECW World Championship (as Big Daddy V). He passed away in February 2014 due to a heart attack.
There is no evidence that Rhea Ripley is related to Viscera. They have different real names (Demi Bennett and Nelson Frazier Jr.), different ethnic backgrounds (Australian and African American), and different physical features (Ripley is blonde and muscular while Viscera was bald and obese). They also have no known family ties or connections.
The rumor that they are related may have started because of their similar ring names (Ripley and Viscera both end with -a) and their similar wrestling styles (both are powerhouses who use brute force and striking moves). However, these are superficial similarities that do not indicate any blood relation.
Conclusion
Rhea Ripley is a WWE superstar who has achieved many milestones and accolades in her career. She is not related to Viscera, the late WWE wrestler who was known for his size and strength. They are two different wrestlers with different backgrounds and stories..
