WWE NXT Superstar Rhea Ripley Responds to Rumours of Her Moving to the Main Roster

Former NXT Champion Rhea Ripley’s NXT future was up in the air after her loss to Io Shirai. The Aussie superstar has been NXT’s biggest asset since late 2019 until Io Shirai burst into the picture. Rhea Ripley addressed her NXT future on the recent episode of WWE NXT.

Rhea Ripley is not leaving WWE NXT

Rhea Ripley stood in the center of the ring, and for a moment, it seemed like she was announcing her departure from NXT. There have been several rumours of Rhea being drafted to Raw, and her main roster debut is coming soon.

However, Rhea had a different plan.

“Everyone’s speculating about what’s next for Rhea Ripley, and you guys have a reason for that. The hug after the match with Io Shirai. But I just wanna explain something to you guys real quickly. That hug was nothing but respect for Io Shirai.”

Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley fought tooth and nail in an excellent match for the NXT Women’s Championship. Ripley tried her hardest to put away Shirai, but the Japanese sensation was too slick for the Aussie. Rhea even sustained a few injuries after the brutal match.

Ripley might be entering War Games

“It wasn’t any kind of sending-off party, I am here, and I’m here to stay,” said Ripley emphatically. “And I’m focused on one thing, and that’s the NXT Women’s Championship and I will not stop….” she continued until she got cut off by Candice Le Rae and Toni Storm.

Candice cited that Io cheated to beat her twice, but was able to put away Ripley cleanly. “The biggest difference between us, is that you talk the talk, but you can’t seem to back it up. I on the other hand, can talk the talk and walk the walk.”

As Candice finished with her promo, out walked Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez with the lifeless body of Io Shirai in stow. They went after Ripley, but she was able to neutralize them for a while, before she succumbed to the number’s game.

The likeliest scenario after that segment is the War Games match between Shotzi Blackheart and Candice Le Rae. Shotzi will form a team with the faces, Ripley, Ember Moon and Io Shirai. Le Rae seems to have formed her own team with Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez and Toni Storm, who turned heel earlier in the show.