Rhea Ripley recently opened up about her journey alongside Dominik Mysterio within WWE, shedding light on how the Dominik Mysterio WWE partnership shaped her in-ring identity and career trajectory. Speaking in a candid interview, the former Women’s World Champion discussed pivotal moments that altered her role and helped her stand out as both a performer and character.
The Shift in Rhea Ripley’s WWE Journey
Ripley and Dominik Mysterio once formed one of WWE’s top on-screen pairings, captivating fans with their evolving dynamic. Their partnership began at the 2022 Clash at the Castle, when Ripley and her faction, The Judgment Day, welcomed the younger Mysterio after his dramatic betrayal of Rey Mysterio and Edge. Over the next two years, Dominik’s association with Ripley propelled him forward in WWE, while simultaneously challenging and enhancing Ripley’s own creative expression within the company.
The trajectory of their storyline took a dramatic turn at WWE SummerSlam 2024, when Dominik surprised audiences by turning against Ripley and beginning a televised romance with Liv Morgan. This plot twist brought new directions for everyone involved, reinforcing the significance of their prior alliance in both superstars’ development.
A Demanding WWE Schedule and Growing as a Performer
Reflecting on her time with Dominik Mysterio, Ripley explained in her conversation with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast how her involvement with The Judgment Day led to a key transformation in her work. She described the intensity of WWE’s schedule and the additional responsibilities she shouldered for her stablemates, including Finn Bálor and Damian Priest, and supporting the group’s creative storylines across numerous show segments.
“Honestly, I think that was like another turning point in my career, being partnered with Dom and also being a part of The Judgment Day. It made me open up as a performer. It made me have to work a lot more because I was doing nine segments in a 16-segment show. Sometimes more. We were doing everything as a part of Judgment Day. I was running around helping Finn and Damian, and then helping Dom,”
Ripley said. —Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Embracing the “Mami” Persona and Creative Growth
During the same interview, Ripley also discussed the evolution of her character, attributing much of her growth to her collaboration with Dominik Mysterio. The 28-year-old recognized that their on-screen connection pushed her to explore a different side of her personality and break away from the strict powerhouse image she previously embodied.
“Then being partnered with Dom, it just helped my character transform into something different.”
“I feel like when I got partnered with Dom, I could actually blossom a little bit into something different. Instead of being the hard a** all the time, I was Mami,”
she added. —Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
This shift allowed Ripley, also known as The Eradicator, to emerge with a more layered performance style and adopt the “Mami” persona, which became central to her on-screen appeal. Her willingness to experiment with her image reflected her determination to continually evolve as a WWE Superstar, setting an example for others in the competitive environment of professional wrestling.
New Challenges Ahead in WWE
As her storyline progresses, Rhea Ripley is preparing for a high-stakes match against Raquel Rodriguez in a Street Fight at WWE Night of Champions, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The outcome of this event may influence her standing within The Judgment Day and the larger WWE landscape.
The evolution of Ripley’s character following her Dominik Mysterio WWE partnership highlights not only her resilience but her passion for growth as both a competitor and performer. Audiences and fans continue to watch her trajectory closely, as new alliances and rivalries reshape the constantly moving world of WWE storytelling.
