5 Things you might not know about NXT UK Superstar Rhea Ripley 

#4. Her toughness comes from music

Rhea Ripley makes her way to the ring

Rhea Ripley credits music for the toughness she has become known for throughout the world of professional wrestling. When Lilian Garcia asked Ripley about the origins of her toughness, Ripley replied,

"Probably the music I listen to. I love heavy metal and rock and all that stuff. It really does get me fired up. That's why I say that I have to have a really good theme song before I go out because I need that to get into that mentality...I relate to a lot of the music I listen to and it does fire me up."

The former NXT UK Women's Champion recounted a time she entered a mosh pit as a teen:

"I got hit in the face by this big dude and I didn't even flinch. I didn't care. I had blood in my teeth and...I smiled. I went back in the pit and was like, 'Let's go.' I ended up fighting the same dude. We did a wall of death and as soon as they said, 'Go!' we ran into each other and I made sure to be across from this dude that hit me in the face because I was like, 'I'm gonna get you back!'

"He was like, 'I have to be against a girl?' As soon as we ran, I fly kicked him right in the face. They came up to me afterwards and were like, 'You're so hardcore. You're sick.' Yeah, I am. You're welcome."

Readers will be hard-pressed to find a story more metal than that.

Music was also instrumental for Ripley when she made her in-ring debut at the age of 17:

"I was so scared and my heart was beating so fast, but I came out to my favorite song which was Of Mice and Men's Second and Sebring, which is a song about his mom who died from having a heart problem that he has now, as well, so he's not allowed to sing anymore.

"He's not in the band, but that was one of the songs that I loved because it had so much emotion and passion in it. It really helped rev me up for my match and that was the song that I had until I finished in Australia and came here. I had the song the whole time. It's still one of my favorite songs."

Take a look at Ripley's current entrance theme below: