WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley reveals she had a panic attack where she was ‘violently shaking’ two hours before defeating Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 40

WWE women’s champion Rhea Ripley revealed she suffered a panic attack that left her ‘shaking violently’ two hours before WrestleMania 40 started on Saturday night.

Competing in the first match of the two-day extravaganza, Ripley defeated Becky Lynch to retain her title. But before going through the curtain for a match at WWE’s biggest annual show, the Australian wrestler felt the jitters of the huge moment.

WWE shared a video on Instagram of Ripley arriving fully clothed at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. More than 70,000 fans attended the show every night.

Ripley has been champion for over a year since she defeated Charlotte Flair for the title at WrestleMania 39. The WWE has fully appreciated her as one of the company’s biggest female stars.

Ripley, 27, known to fans as the only female member of the villainous stable The Judgment Day, shared details of the incident during a panel on WWE World.

Ripley seemed happy to enter the venue, but overcame a panic attack before performing

Rhea Ripley first became known to WWE fans through her participation in the Mae Young Classic in 2017. Since then, her goth rocker persona has come to life.

“It’s kind of funny how this all works in this crazy world. I actually had a full-blown panic attack two hours before I walked through the curtain, and I was shaking violently, just nervous,” Ripley said.

“If you don’t get nervous before you go out, especially at WrestleMania, you clearly don’t love it enough,” Ripley added. ‘I agree. So I’m glad the nerves were there. But at the same time, it kind of took over my body.”

“So when I stepped on stage with the band Motionless in White, all those nerves I had just flew away,” Ripley said.

Ripley is referring to the band that performed her entrance theme ‘Demon In Your Dreams’ and was on stage to play her to victory over Lynch.

“I was in the zone, moshing like it was a little mosh pit. I lived in the moment, and that’s what I love about this company,” Ripley said. ‘We often live in the moment. When I meet Rhea Ripley, I immediately feel comfortable, ready to go and ready to fight.”