The story of Rhea Ripley WWE ring name origin offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain of wrestling identity creation, as Ripley recently discussed how she arrived at her now-famous in-ring persona during a candid interview. Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the Insight podcast, Ripley, a former WWE Women’s World Champion, recalled her journey from her given name to the compelling moniker she carries today.
In professional wrestling, performers are almost always known by names other than their own. Rhea Ripley, who competed under her real name, Demi Bennett, prior to joining WWE, described the process of building her wrestling identity. She outlined how the creative process unfolds, explaining that wrestlers and WWE’s team will often spend time developing a list of possible names before making the final selection.
The First Steps Toward a WWE Identity
Rhea Ripley shed light on her earliest days working with WWE, describing the initial brainstorming sessions devoted to crafting her in-ring persona. She revealed that the process began with a list of suggested name combinations, inspired by notable figures from both music and the world of strong female icons.
“So when I first started, they asked me for five combinations of names, and I went through trying to make combinations of names that I liked from either band members or just strong women in general.”
—Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Before adopting her superstar identity, Ripley battled as Demi Bennett, her birth name, on the independent wrestling scene. The WWE initially contemplated keeping her real name, which, according to Ripley, did not feel right for her.
“Demi Bennett, which is my name. I don’t know why. They just didn’t want to change my name. They’re like, ‘Yeah, Demi Bennett is good. It’s a good wrestler name.’ It’s really not. I’m glad because some people have three, four wrestling names, and I’m glad that I just have two.”
—Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Influences That Inspired the Final Name
The journey to Rhea Ripley’s WWE ring name origin also included several possible alternatives influenced by musicians and strong personalities. Among the initial ideas was the pairing “Isla Radke,” inspired by her admiration for Ronnie Radke, lead singer of the band Falling in Reverse. Radke’s last name stood out to Ripley due to its uniqueness, especially in her native Australia. There was also a possibility of incorporating “Ashby,” a name referencing Alan Ashby, the guitarist from the band Of Mice & Men. These ideas reflected Ripley’s tendency to draw inspiration from powerful individuals within and outside of wrestling.
Embodying Strength: Creation of Rhea Ripley
For her final WWE name, Ripley turned to even bolder representations. Attracted by the name Rhea, which references a goddess, and the strength embodied by the character Ripley from the Alien franchise, she aimed to combine elements of power, resilience, and individuality. This combination stood out, especially with the impactful double “R” alliteration seen in other renowned WWE names like Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riott, and Raquel Rodriguez.
“And then Rhea Ripley came from, Rhea is a Goddess’s name. And I was like, she’s cool. I like that. And then Ripley came from Alien [Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver]. She was a badass, and I was like, I want to be like that. I want to be a badass. They just mesh so well together with the RR, it just always works out. I mean, you see Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riott, Raquel Rodriguez, I don’t know what it is, it just works. But yeah, Rhea Ripley just stuck, and we were getting ready for the first Mae Young Classic, and I think it was Bloom, I believe, just walked past and he goes, ‘Rhea Ripley.’ I go ‘I guess so?’ I got no choice. I sent you my five names. You guys pick one,”
—Rhea Ripley, WWE Superstar
Impact of a Name: Standing Out in WWE
The careful selection behind Rhea Ripley’s WWE ring name origin highlights the creativity and cultural blending that shapes wrestling personas. Drawing from musicians like Ronnie Radke, iconic film heroes such as Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, and legendary status symbols like goddesses, Ripley’s final choice established her as a standout among WWE talent. Her adoption of the strong RR initials places her in company with other stars who have built memorable brands on impactful names, including Roman Reigns, Ronda Rousey, Ruby Riott, and Raquel Rodriguez.
Today, Rhea Ripley stands as one of WWE’s most recognizable figures, her carefully curated identity echoing the vision and intensity she brings to the ring. Fans of wrestling and newcomers alike now have a deeper understanding of the significance and layered inspirations behind the famous Rhea Ripley WWE ring name origin, a name shaped by musical idols, pop culture legends, and the drive to leave a bold mark on professional wrestling history.
