Rhea Ripley’s “Stinkface” Tribute Sparks Controversy and Debate in WWE Community
During a WWE Live Event in March, Rhea Ripley performed the famous “stinkface” move on Nia Jax, paying tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. The video of this moment went viral, amassing over 10 million views on Ripley’s Instagram and nearly 4 million on WWE’s YouTube channel. However, the move sparked controversy and criticism from some corners of the wrestling community.
In response to the backlash, Ripley defended her actions in an interview with “Ring the Belle.” She pointed out what she perceived as a double standard, noting that when male wrestlers or other female performers like Tiffany Stratton do similar moves, they receive praise. Ripley suggested that the criticism she faced was rooted in jealousy over her popularity. Notable among her critics was fellow wrestler Becky Lynch, who expressed strong disapproval of the spot, viewing it as a setback to the progress made in women’s wrestling.
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