WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley recently was a guest on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, opening up about her rise to the top of the wrestling world, her inspirations, and perhaps most intriguingly—the backstory behind the now-iconic name “Rhea Ripley.”
While her powerhouse persona and unforgettable presence inside the ring have become instantly associated with the name, Ripley revealed that her moniker was born from a mixture of musical influences, mythology, and a healthy dose of sci-fi badassery.
“Oh man, this is a long time ago,” Ripley recalled with a laugh. “I really like the name Isla. I love the name Isla. And that was one that I didn’t actually pull from anything, but it was Isla Radke, because at that time, I really loved Falling in Reverse and Ronnie Radke. He’s the main singer, so I loved his last name, just because it was so different. You don’t really hear Radke, especially not in Australia. I don’t know about America, but I liked that one.”
Music fans might not be surprised to hear Ripley’s tastes leaned heavily into rock and metal during her formative years. She continued, “And then there was something Ashby. I can’t remember what the start of that one was. It was something Ashby. And [Alan] Ashby was the guitarist for Of Mice and Men.”
While Isla Radke and a variation of “Ashby” were early frontrunners, it was ultimately the fusion of mythology and cinema that gave birth to the name that would define her WWE career. “Rhea is a Goddess’s name. And I was like, she’s cool. I like that. And then Ripley came from Alien [Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver]. She was a badass, and I was like, I want to be like that. I want to be a badass.”
The synergy of “Rhea Ripley” wasn’t just about sounding cool—it fit the WWE mold in a way that’s become a proven formula. “They just mesh so well together with the RR, it just always works out. I mean, you see Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riott, Raquel Rodriguez. I don’t know what it is, it just works.”
Like many WWE Superstars, the final decision came down to the creative team—and a bit of happenstance. “But yeah, Rhea Ripley just stuck, and we were getting ready for the first Mae Young Classic, and I think it was [Matt] Bloom, I believe, just walked past and he goes, ‘Rhea Ripley.’ I go ‘I guess so?’ I got no choice. I sent you my five names. You guys pick one.”
Since then, “Rhea Ripley” has become more than a name—it’s a brand, a standard-bearer for women’s wrestling, and a presence that commands attention every time she steps into the squared circle. Whether battling under the bright lights of WrestleMania or leading the women’s division on Monday nights, Ripley has lived up to the badass legacy that inspired her name—and then some.
You can check out the entire interview with Rhea Ripley on Insight with Chris Van Vliet below.
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