Rhea Ripley reveals she had panic attack hours before WrestleMania: ‘Violently shaking’

Rhea Ripley’s WWE character is larger than life, but behind the veneer she grapples with human emotions just like the rest of us.

The 27-year-old Ripley, an Australian whose real name is Demi Bennett, defeated Becky Lynch to retain her SmackDown women’s championship at WrestleMania on Saturday.

Later, she spoke on a WWE world panel and revealed the anxiety she was facing before the big match.

Rhea Ripley reacts after defeating Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s World Championship during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images Rhea Ripley collides with the ropes during a match against Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s World Championship during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 06, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

“It’s quite funny how this whole thing works in this crazy world. I legit was having a straight-up panic attack two hours before I walked through the curtain, and I was violently shaking, just nervous,” Ripley said, as covered by Fightful.

“If you don’t get nervous before you go out, especially at WrestleMania, you obviously don’t love it enough. That’s the way I think about it. So I’m glad the nerves were there. But at the same time, that was sort of taking over my body.”

She was able to outrun the nerves when she walked through the curtain.

“So when I got to step through into the stage with the band Motionless in White, all those nerves that I had just sort of flew away,” Ripley said.

Rhea Ripley’s WrestleMania 40 ring entrance. Getty Images

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“I was in the zone, I was moshing out like it was a little mosh pit. I was living in the moment, and that’s what I love about this business. We get to live in the moment a lot of the time. I just snap into Rhea Ripley, and I’m instantly comfortable, instantly ready to go and ready to fight.”

Ripley is a member of the “Judgment Day” stable and has been tethered in the storyline with Dominik Mysterio, the son of legendary wrestler Rey Mysterio Jr., as the pair has been referred to as “Mami” and “Papi.”