Rhea Ripley, one of the most prominent female wrestlers in WWE today, was the subject of criticism from former WWE writer Vince Russo, who believes that her recent actions on Monday Night RAW would have resulted in immediate termination under WWE’s older management style. Russo pointed out that Ripley, also known as Mami, engaged in a playful in-ring interaction with LA Knight after the show, which broke kayfabe and deviated from the traditional standards set by Vince McMahon’s regime.
During an interview on Behind The Turnbuckle Studios’ The Coach and Bro Show, Russo explained that the previous regime strictly enforced maintaining character both on and off camera, emphasizing that any deviation could lead to swift consequences. He remarked that if Ripley had behaved this way while McMahon was in charge, she would likely have been fired without hesitation.
“Can you imagine if Rhea Ripley wore this character on TV and then when the show went off the air, she went out there and did that [breaking kayfabe with LA Knight] with Vince [McMahon] sitting at gorilla? First of all, she wouldn’t have even thought about it. Second of all, she would’ve been fired on the spot because now you expect us to buy into this person, and now you’re going out in front of 30,000 people and however many million are going to watch on YouTube, and you’re the girl next door and clowning? I don’t understand that, coach,” Russo said. —Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
How Ripley’s WWE career has evolved under Triple H’s leadership
Rhea Ripley initially joined WWE’s main roster in 2021 after spending time in the developmental system, but her rise to stardom accelerated under the current creative team led by Triple H. While Ripley’s character struggled to find a clear direction when she first transitioned from NXT to the main roster, the creative environment shifted dramatically after the change in leadership.
In a discussion on Gorilla Position, Ripley highlighted the differences she noticed between the two creative regimes, praising the Triple H era for improving how wrestlers like herself are utilized and portrayed on television. Her development into “The Eradicator” reached new heights after joining The Judgment Day faction, a storyline that significantly boosted her profile and solidified her status as a key figure in WWE’s female division.
The shifting creative landscape and its impact on WWE performers
The comments from Russo and Ripley underscore the dramatic changes WWE has undergone since Vince McMahon stepped back from day-to-day creative control. The previous regime maintained a strict philosophy around kayfabe and character consistency, which sometimes limited performers’ ability to express themselves outside the scripted environment. The current leadership under Triple H appears more flexible in allowing performers to connect with audiences in less traditional or scripted ways.
For Ripley, this has meant greater creative freedom and an opportunity to display both her wrestling skills and personality more openly. While this new approach has earned praise from many fans and insiders, it also poses challenges for how WWE balances storytelling with performance authenticity moving forward.
The evolution of Ripley’s character and the broader creative direction will continue to draw close attention as WWE prepares for upcoming events and further develops its talent roster.
