CM Punk expressed disbelief over WWE’s decision to create an onscreen romantic storyline between Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio, which aired during the Judgement Day saga. Despite Punk’s criticism, the plotline significantly boosted the careers of both wrestlers, resonating deeply with fans and elevating their status in the WWE universe.
CM Punk’s Strong Reaction to the Ripley-Mysterio Romance Concept
CM Punk publicly questioned WWE’s choice to pair Rhea Ripley with Dominik Mysterio in a romantic role, finding the idea hard to accept given Ripley’s dominant presence and Mysterio’s comparatively understated character. Both Punk and Ripley appeared on E-Man’s Movie Reviews podcast to discuss the
“WWE: Unreal, The Best in the World”
documentary, where Punk ridiculed the storyline pitch.
One time, they wanted her to be in a relationship with Dominic Mysterio. Who’s going to believe that? Who’s going to believe that? Hey everybody, here’s a Greek goddess, and she’s with this f**king nerd. Like, come on. Come on. That’s exposing that exposes the business more than anything we’re going to do on Netflix, cuz who’s going to believe that sh*t? Dominic Mysterio, little b**ch.
—CM Punk
This blunt assessment drew laughter from the podcast host and WWE Women’s Champion, who called the idea
the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life.
While Punk found the concept unbelievable, audiences connected with the storyline, enjoying the chemistry between Ripley and Mysterio and the narrative tension it created.
Rhea Ripley Shares How the Dominik Mysterio-Judgement Day Storyline Helped Her Growth
Contrary to Punk’s skepticism, Rhea Ripley embraced the storyline involving Dominik Mysterio and the Judgement Day faction, recognizing it as a pivotal chapter in her career. The WWE Universe responded enthusiastically, especially during moments when Ripley and Mysterio attacked Rey Mysterio’s family during holiday-themed segments, intensifying a heated family feud.
On the INSIGHT podcast with Chris Van Vliet, Ripley reflected on how the storyline helped transform her character and skillset. She described the partnership with Dominik as a key factor that pushed her evolution beyond what she accomplished in NXT and NXT UK, marking it as another crucial turning point.
Being partnered with Dom, it just like it helped my character like transform into something different because I feel like in NXT I was doing the same thing, but on the different brands, I was in NXT UK, and I was like that that force that came from the Second Mae Young Classic, and then that kind of transferred onto NXT but in a babyface sort of manner, which was a little bit different.
—Rhea Ripley
Ripley admitted that breaking through in the main roster during the COVID era was challenging due to audience reactions, requiring trial and error. However, portraying the “Mami” persona alongside Dominik allowed her to show new sides of her personality—stern, yet nurturing—which resonated strongly with fans and expanded her role beyond wrestling alone.
Damian Priest’s Influence in Shaping Rhea Ripley’s Persona in Judgement Day
Another underrated aspect of Ripley’s time in WWE was her close friendship with Damian Priest, a fellow Judgement Day member who played a vital role behind the scenes. During the INSIGHT interview, Ripley revealed how Priest suggested adopting the “Mami” nickname, which became an iconic part of her character’s identity.
Priest was like, ‘What about mommy?’ I was like, ‘Okay, guess I’ll be Mami.’ I was really set on the Papi thing. I was like, ‘I can be a little sh*t stirrer just be Papi. Papi this, Papi that.’
—Rhea Ripley
Although WWE executives shut down Ripley’s initial idea of a “Papi” gimmick out of respect for Eddie Guerrero’s legacy, she embraced Priest’s suggestion. The frequent use of “Mami” by Dominik helped the persona gain momentum, cementing Ripley’s status as “the mommy of WWE” in the eyes of fans and peers alike.
Looking Ahead: Impact of the Ripley-Mysterio Narrative on WWE’s Landscape
While CM Punk remains critical of the romantic direction taken for Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio, the storyline undeniably elevated their profiles and offered longtime fans a compelling soap-opera-like drama within the wrestling world. Their performances, filled with tension and emotional complexity, highlighted WWE’s ability to blend character development with athletic storytelling.
This angle not only allowed Ripley to display a more layered character but also helped Dominik Mysterio solidify his place on the roster. Their time in Judgement Day showed how wrestling narratives can evolve and create engaging content beyond in-ring competition.
As WWE continues to innovate its storytelling approaches, the legacy of Ripley and Mysterio’s relationship is likely to remain a memorable example of character transformation and audience connection, demonstrating the power of controversial but effective programming.
WWE: Unreal can be streamed now on Netflix, offering fans a deeper look into the personalities and stories shaping the wrestling industry today.
