Rhea Ripley is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in WWE and the broader pro wrestling world today. Despite her prominence, former WWE wrestler EC3 has pointed out a critical flaw in Ripley’s in-ring performance that may be hindering her full potential.
Kevin Nash recently criticized Raquel Rodriguez’s wrestling style, highlighting how she often appears to sell moves to smaller opponents. EC3 extended a similar observation to both Raquel and Rhea Ripley, suggesting that this approach reflects a flawed mindset that unintentionally weakens their own presence even against less imposing competitors.
EC3 on Why Ripley and Rodriguez Sell Too Much to Their Opponents
During an appearance on The Wrestling Outlaws podcast, EC3 addressed why Ripley and Rodriguez may feel compelled to elevate their opponents in this way. He explained that, despite admiring both wrestlers, he believes they fall into a pattern driven by the desire to make others look strong in the ring. EC3 stated:
“I don’t want to be critical of Rhea or Raquel, ’cause I am an avid fan of both of them. But working down is something that they probably feel they have to do to make other people look good. ‘Cause sometimes, as a professional too, we want to make someone like, there is an honour in making somebody look good.” —EC3, Former WWE Star
Vince Russo Agrees With Kevin Nash’s Assessment of Ripley’s Selling
Former WWE head writer Vince Russo also weighed in on the debate during the same episode of The Wrestling Outlaws. Russo conveyed that Kevin Nash’s critique of Raquel Rodriguez equally applies to Rhea Ripley, specifically noting that Ripley excessively sells moves from opponents who are physically smaller. He remarked:
“I gotta be honest, Rhea Ripley is in that same category as far as I am concerned. Absolutely. How many times have we spoken about Rhea Ripley selling to somebody half her size? We talked about that every single week. When it comes to ‘big man’ psychology, I would listen to Kevin Nash.” —Vince Russo, Former WWE Head Writer
The criticism highlights a persistent issue where Ripley’s tendency to sell too often diminishes her perceived strength, which contrasts with her otherwise formidable reputation. Fans now await to see how The Eradicator will adjust her in-ring approach moving forward, as addressing this flaw could be key to elevating her status even further inside WWE.
