The fearsome Rhea Ripley is affectionately dubbed ‘The Eradicator’ and ‘Nightmare’ by her devoted WWE audience, with the latter standing out among her followers. In a recent interview on Australia’s The Today Show, WWE superstar Rhea Ripley shared the origin of her ring name.
The member of Judgment Day revealed that it was inspired by a line in a ‘Motionless In White’ song. This backstory adds an intriguing layer to Ripley’s persona, giving her nickname a unique and meaningful connection.
What’s the origin of Rhea Ripley’s ‘The Nightmare’?
In 2017, Rhea Ripley began her WWE career on NXT and quickly became a superstar. She won the WWE Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania 37, defeating Asuka, exactly one month after making the switch to the RAW main roster in 2020. Fans call her “Mami,” while her opponents in the realm of WWE Women’s World Champion still refer to her as “The Nightmare.”
Rhea Ripley explained where her WWE nickname, “The Nightmare,” came from in an interview that aired recently on the Today Show in Australia. The member of Judgment Day credits the name to the band “Motionless In White,” who also composed her current theme tune. Because of this, Ripley feels even more connected to her character.
She stated in the interview, “It actually doesn’t have anything to do with that. But it’s funny because every time I post a photo that’s what people write, like, ‘Rhea Ripped-Ly’. But I actually got it from the chick from Aliens. I looked up bada** female names and Rhea was the name of a goddess and Ripley was the chick from Aliens. I was like, ‘They sound great together.”
Why is Rhea Ripley now known as ‘Mami’?
Rhea Ripley’s charismatic performances and remarkable wins have pushed her fan base, even in her heel turn, to new heights. She’s clearly the biggest star in WWE in 2023. Dominik Mysterio has affectionately referred to her as his “mami” and included her on his wrestling “Mount Rushmore” because of their onscreen connection, which has won over fans.
Since her transformation on Judgement Day, Ripley’s popularity has skyrocketed, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The WWE Universe wholeheartedly adopted Dominik’s moniker “Mami” for Ripley. Due to Ripley’s commanding presence in and out of the ring, the phrase has become a favorite among fans and reverberates across stadiums anytime she makes an appearance.
Which nickname of Rhea Ripley do you like most between “Nightmare” and “Mami?” share your thoughts in the comments.
