Rhea Ripley told Charlotte Flair that she her time was now, and she would prove it to her at WrestleMania 39. Tonight, she did just that, becoming the newest WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion.
In an instant classic between Ripley and Flair, the two superstars went at it from the very start. Between trading finishers and big moves, things came down to the very end, and that’s when Ripley flipped her switch.
Toward the end of the match, Ripley and Flair found themselves on the top rope, and as Flair tried to set up a fallaway slam, Ripley quickly slammed Flair’s head into the top of the post, knocking her out in the process. With a yell of “this is my time,” Ripley then hit the Riptide off the top rope for the pin and win.
For a recap of how the match went, check out below courtesy of our live, play-by-play coverage:
Ripley runs over Flair. As Flair is looking up, Ripley does a crotch chop. Flair runs over Ripley. Ripley rolls out of the ring. Flair tries to work over Ripley’s knee, but she moves and clobbers Flair. Ripley works over Flair’s midsection. Flair fires up, but Ripley cuts her off with a kidney shot. Flair misses a chop. Ripley responds with a German suplex. Flair fires up and lands a flurry of chops. Knee breaker by Flair. Flair goes up top. Ripley rolls through and attempts Riptide.
Flair reverses it into a DDT. Ripley kicks out. Flair tries the Figure Eight, but Ripley kicks her away. Ripley and Flair boot each other in the face at the same time. Fall away slam by Flair. Flair sets up a moonsault. Ripley cuts her off and hits a German suplex off the top! Flair somehow kicks out. Ripley rolls out of the ring. Flair follows. Ripley sends Flair into the ring steps. Face buster by Ripley. Flair kicks out. Flair counters Riptide with a German suplex. Flair tries another, but Ripley reverses it into a nasty German suplex. Flair lands on her face. Flair kicks out. Big boot by Flair. Ripley kicks out. Flair boots Ripley off the apron. Flair lands a moonsault off the top to the outside.
Flair tries a spear and almost hits the referee. Ripley clocks Flair with a headbutt, followed by Riptide. Flair kicks out at 2.9. Ripley locks Flair in the Prism Lock. Flair gets to the ropes. Spear by Flair. Ripley kicks out. Ripley and Flair trade strikes. Figure Four by Flair. Ripley gets to the ropes to break the hold. Flair sets up a fallaway slam off the top, but Ripley slams Flair’s head into the ring post. Flair is out cold. Ripley hits Riptide off the top for the win.
Winner and NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley!
