Huge WrestleMania Update! Rhea Ripley Challenges Asuka on her Raw Debut

Rhea Ripley has finally made her long-awaited main roster debut on Monday Night Raw. After weeks of vignettes, WWE announced last week that Ripley would make her debut on the post-Fastlane edition of Raw. And she did, in the most enthralling fashion – stepping up to Raw Women’s Champion Asuka.

Rhea Ripley makes WWE Raw debut, challenges Asuka at WrestleMania 37

Asuka faced Peyton Royce in a back-and-forth contest and emerged victorious after Royce submitted to the Asuka Lock. Just as Asuka picked up the victory, Rhea Ripley’s music hit and out came ‘The Nightmare.’

Rhea Ripley didn’t waste any time and cut right to the chase. She stood face to face with the ‘Empress of Tomorrow,’ and mentioned how Charlotte Flair had challenged her a few weeks ago. She then revealed Flair will not make it for Mania as she is recovering from COVID.

Without further ado, Ripley said, “Asuka, I’m gonna need an answer. On my first official night on Raw, straight up I challenge you for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.” Asuka talked in Japanese for a while before saying Ripley wasn’t ready for Asuka. But then, she immediately said, “Rhea Ripley, I Accept.”

The match is official! Rhea Ripley will get a shot at Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37. This will be Ripley’s second championship match at ‘The Showcase Of The Immortals’. Last year, she faced Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship, but couldn’t retain her title. Will the tables turn this year? We’ll only find out at WrestleMania.

Empress vs Nightmare – a match for the ages!

Asuka versus Rhea Ripley promises to be an exciting, hard-hitting contest from top-to-bottom. Both women are extraordinary wrestlers and can put on a show-stealing match anywhere they wrestle – Raw or even WrestleMania.

While Ripley lost to ‘The Queen’ last year, Asuka, too, faced defeat at last year’s ‘Show of Shows.’ She and Kairi Sane lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross to kick off Night 1 of WrestleMania. ‘The Empress’ will definitely look to reverse her win-loss record at Mania!

While Ripley has some great momentum behind her, she must not take Asuka lightly. The Raw Women’s Champion is no rookie, and there is a reason she was undefeated for over two years in NXT. Who do you think will win at WrestleMania? Let us know in the comments below!

Also Read: Was Chris Jericho Treated Well at WrestleMania?