Rhea Ripley Opens Up About the Challenges of Being Married to an AEW Wrestler
This past year has been one of significant growth and change for WWE star Rhea Ripley, both in her personal life and in the ring.
At 28, Ripley is set to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship against champion Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair during Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 on Sunday, April 20. In June 2024, she tied the knot with fellow pro wrestler Buddy Matthews.
Matthews, now 36, is a former WWE wrestler who currently competes in All Elite Wrestling. Due to their hectic and sometimes conflicting schedules, Ripley shared that their first year of marriage has been challenging at times.
“Not being together all the time has been tough — it really is difficult,” Ripley told Us Weekly while discussing her collaboration with C4 Energy. “I miss being at home, I miss the dogs, I miss everything.”
Nevertheless, Ripley emphasized, “He always tells me that distance makes the heart grow fonder.”
“When we are together, we really connect on so many levels,” she continued. “We’re practically the same person. Anything I find annoying in him is usually something I do too. I can forgive that because I think, ‘Okay, I can be bothersome as well.’”
When Ripley and Matthews manage to be home together, she explained that wrestling often takes a backseat.
“Typically, we don’t discuss work,” she said. “When I return home from touring, I share how everything went and vent if I need to. The same goes for him. But aside from that, we prefer to enjoy other activities together. He’s genuinely my best friend, and everything we do is such a joy.”
Ripley added, “We enjoy going to the gym together. That’s our daily routine. Even if we’re not working out side by side, we still send messages or just pause for a chat.”
Ripley will kick off an exciting WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas with a meet-and-greet at WSKY Bar + Grill on Thursday, April 17, from 5-7 pm local time.
The superstar expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunities to connect with fans, many of whom wait “for literal hours” to meet her.
“I love being able to meet them and listen to their stories,” Ripley explained. “I dislike when it feels rushed. I genuinely want to hear what they have to say. Often, it’s incredibly meaningful, and sometimes they need just a bit more time to express their feelings, share gratitude, or present a gift.”
Ripley concluded, “It’s a really precious moment for me.”
Nights 1 and 2 of WrestleMania 41 will stream live on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, respectively, starting at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock.
