Rhea Ripley was worried “Mami” chants would ruin WWE Backlash for Zelina Vega.
WWE Backlash proved to have one of the loudest WWE crowds in recent memory as WWE fans in San Juan, Puerto Rico, stayed hot for the event from start to finish. Zelina Vega, in particular, received a warm welcome as she competed in the territory for the first time ever in a SmackDown Women’s Championship match against Rhea Ripley.
However, Ripley was worried that her own reaction would hinder Vega’s. She discussed her experience in San Juan during a recent interview with Peter Rosenberg of The Ringer.
“I was honestly living in that moment. We had the press conference earlier that day and I heard the reaction Zelina got when she went out there, it was loud,” Ripley recalled. “I was very excited for her, but then I went out there and it all turned into ‘Mami’ chants, and I was like, ‘Oh.’ It’s cool to hear, don’t get me wrong, but I was thinking about it later that night and I was like, ‘Oh no, hopefully Mami chants don’t drown anything out’, because I know how special this event is to her because I know how special it would be for me to be able to perform in Australia, so I can relate to that. Especially since she’s never had that big opportunity that she’s worked so hard for, this was like her WrestleMania moment in a way.
“When I went out there first and I got the ‘Mami’ chants, I was [worried] but wanted to see what happened when her music hit,” Ripley admitted. “The crowd just like turned on me instantly, I had to like sort of talk to myself like, ‘Yo, they are so hot for her right now, I can only imagine the emotions that she’s feeling right now.’ And then seeing her walk out with the flag, go to her family, hug them, get in the ring and get so emotional live on camera when I know that she’s not a very emotional showing person, it was hard for me to play off it in a way that Rhea Ripley would”
Ripley continued by noting that she’s happy Vega got such a special moment, and she was glad that she could be a part of it.
“I wanted to smile with her, but I wouldn’t. I’m very happy she got that moment and she got that opportunity, and I know it’s gonna be something that she’s not gonna forget for the rest of her life. I’m glad that I could be the person in the ring with her to help her get to the point where everyone is just like believing in her in an established way.”
Ripley, the reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion, was selected by WWE RAW in the 2023 WWE Draft, while Vega and the LWO were picked by SmackDown.
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If you use any quotes from this article, please credit The Ringer with a h/t to WrestleZone for the transcription.
