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Rhea Ripley is one of the top stars in the WWE women's division. She defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39 to win the SmackDown Women's Championship. The Eradicator is also part of top storylines thanks to her on-screen romance with Dominik Mysterio.
Ripley successfully defended her title over Zelina Vega at Backlash 2023 and is most likely to feud with Natalya in the future. Before her main roster debut in March 2021, she made a name for herself in the WWE Developmental brand.
During her time in NXT and NXT UK, she had a number of close friends who would go on to leave WWE and continue their careers in AEW.
Here are three friends Rhea Ripley is close with in AEW.
#3. Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm
Rhea Ripley and Toni Storm go way back since they both grew up in Australia and started their wrestling journeys in the Aussie independent circuit. They have been friends since they were 16 years old.
Just like Ripley, Storm eventually made her WWE debut at the Mae Young Classic before establishing herself on the NXT UK brand. In fact, they both feuded over the NXT UK Women's Title a number of times.
Unfortunately, Toni's career didn't pan out the way Rhea did, and requested a release from her WWE contract on 29 December 2021. The 27-year-old star then signed with AEW in 2022.
Having won the AEW Interim Women's World Championship at All Out 2022, she is now part of The Outcasts faction, comprising former WWE Superstars Saraya and Ruby Soho.
The Eradicator even praised the impact the group has made in AEW, including Toni's seamless heel transition.
#2. Rhea Ripley and Malakai Black
Another talent who has spent time working in AEW and whom Rhea Ripley is friends with is Malakai Black, who is the leader of the House of Black.
The Dutchman is married in real-life to current WWE Superstar Zelina Vega, whom Rhea is close with, despite being rivals.
Soon after joining AEW in 2021, Black launched his own clothing brand Blxckmass Clothing. In promo material for the apparel launch, Malakai Black enlisted the help of his wife and Ripley as models for the shoot.
Whenever new items are released, The Nightmare has regularly modeled the clothes as well.
#1. Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews
Rhea and Buddy Matthews are certainly more than friends, with The Eradicator publicly announcing their relationship early last year on social media.
Since then, she has regularly posted clips of herself and her real-life partner working out together despite being part of different companies.
Buddy Matthews is currently working in the Jacksonville-based Promotion, where he is a member of the House of Black and is one-third of the current AEW World Trios Champion.
Even though he's contracted to All Elite Wrestling, Buddy has accompanied Ripley to WWE-related events such as the Hall of Fame 2023 ceremony, even when Rhea was seated beside Dominik Mysterio.
One wonders how Buddy and Dom get along, given that Matthews was previously in an on-screen relationship with Dom's younger sister herself, Aalyah.
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