WrestleMania Plans Set, Biggest Takeaways From WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 Results | News, Scores,
Women's world champion Rhea Ripley successfully defended her title Saturday in the main event of Elimination Chamber by overcoming the extraordinary challenge of Nia Jax.
The Eradicator celebrated her victory with family and friends at ringside, but it's a celebration that will be short-lived because her next defense will be against Becky Lynch in a match that is absolutely deserving of the stage and a spot in the main event of Night 1.
Mami vs. The Man is a match WWE has hinted at more than once over the last year or two, either via backstage interactions or tense in-arena staredowns.
ُk @meredithsgfthat rhea ripley becky lynch stare down though…. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERaw?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERaw</a> <a href="https://t.co/iRgV8f3GEp">pic.twitter.com/iRgV8f3GEp</a>
Lynch intensified things before the Royal Rumble when she claimed she was not so sure Ripley was not better than her at this point and the only way to prove it was for them to clash for the championship.
WWE @WWEWomen's World Champion <a href="https://twitter.com/RheaRipley_WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RheaRipley_WWE</a> wasn't expecting <a href="https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeckyLynchWWE</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERaw?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERaw</a>! <a href="https://t.co/JWi50TwJ4m">pic.twitter.com/JWi50TwJ4m</a>
The Man failed to win the women's Rumble match to set up the bout, but her victory Saturday inside the Elimination Chamber did just that.
The story is there but, more importantly, so is the star power.
Lynch and Ripley are among the most over women in the company. They are believable champions, accepted badasses and both have the equity built up among the fanbase to headline WrestleMania.
The challenger already has, making history in 2019 with her victory over Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey in the first-ever all-female main event.
Ripley headlined Saturday's premium live event, which was built and marketed around her, proving she can carry the weight of such expectation on her shoulders.
That both have delivered under the brightest lights only helps solidify the argument for their spot in the marquee bout on April 6 in Philadelphia. Lynch had a classic with Bianca Belair two years ago in Dallas, while Ripley and Flair earned acclaim for one of the best bouts of 2023 at last year's event in Los Angeles.
Lynch has always fancied herself as a version of Rocky Balboa, the titular character in the Philadelphia-based classic Rocky, even going as far as to refer to herself as "Becky Balboa" at different points in her WWE career.
Stephanie Hypes @StephanieHypes"BECKY BALBOA BABY, WE DID IT!" 🥺 <a href="https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BeckyLynchWWE</a> <a href="https://t.co/9cDhctZZQQ">pic.twitter.com/9cDhctZZQQ</a>
Ripley can take on the role of the seemingly unbeatable Ivan Drago, whose sheer disregard for his opponent was at the center of Rocky IV.
The matchup has all the ingredients for an all-timer. The stars, the story, the ties to a character and narrative so popular in the City of Brotherly Love that they paid homage to a fictional character with a statue.
Book the match, put it in the main event of Night 1, and let two of the biggest women's wrestling stars in the history of WWE cook.
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