Okay, so I’ve been watching a lot of wrestling lately, and Rhea Ripley really caught my eye. Not just the look, you know, but the way she carries herself in the ring. So, I thought, let me actually sit down and sort of… study her? Yeah, sounds a bit weird, but it was a little project for myself.
Getting Started
First thing I did was pull up a bunch of her matches. Not just the big pay-per-view ones, but some random weekly show matches too. I wanted to see if there was a difference in how she worked. Grabbed a notepad, old school style.
I started just watching, letting it play. Then I’d rewind specific spots. What was she doing right before a big move? How did she sell her opponent’s offense? Stuff like that.
Digging In
Power Moves: Man, her power stuff is impressive. I started listing out her signature moves. The Riptide, obviously. But also how she uses her strength in just basic grapples or throwing people around. It looks so effortless sometimes, but watching closely, you see the technique.
Presence: This was a big one for me. It’s not just about the wrestling moves. It’s the walk, the sneer, how she interacts with the crowd even when she’s just standing on the apron. I tried, just for laughs, mimicking that confident walk and stare in the mirror. Felt pretty silly, not gonna lie, but it helped me appreciate how much performing goes into it. It’s not just physical; it’s a whole character.
- Watched entrance sequences multiple times.
- Noted how she uses the ropes or turnbuckles as part of her ‘act’.
- Paid attention to moments between moves – the taunts, the glares.
What I Found
Doing this whole exercise was kinda cool. I wasn’t trying to become a wrestler or anything, obviously. But breaking it down piece by piece gave me a new appreciation for what these folks do. It’s more than just athleticism.
You see patterns. You see the storytelling. Rhea, for example, tells a story of dominance and intimidation really well. Every little action seems to feed into that persona. It’s consistent.
So yeah, spent a few afternoons doing this. Didn’t really build anything, didn’t achieve some grand goal. Just watched, took some notes, thought about it. Now when I watch her matches, I feel like I see a bit more of the ‘why’ behind what she’s doing. It’s made watching wrestling more interesting again, which is pretty neat.
