Charlotte Flair: We Didn’t See The Plan For Rhea Ripley And I Before, That Makes Our Story Better

Charlotte Flair discusses being excited to extend her story with Rhea Ripley at this year’s WrestleMania. 

Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley feuded in 2020 over the WWE NXT Women’s Championship after Charlotte Flair won the Royal Rumble. Three years later, Rhea Ripley has won the Royal Rumble, and she is now looking to return the favor, challenging Charlotte Flair for the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39. 

During a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Flair reflected on wrestling Ripley in the opening of the second night of a unique WrestleMania in front of no fans at an empty WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

“I’m excited. WrestleMania 36 exceeded expectations, and that was just scratching the surface. That was literally, we found out we were first, we put the match together in three hours, maybe even two, then we had the match in front of no fans, and it was awesome, and we beat the bloody hell out of each other,” she said. “Then, you fast forward to Money in the Bank, which I think people maybe don’t talk about as much because it wasn’t one of the big four, but that match was a top eight or ten match, in my opinion without really a story.  At least the NXT match had a story, that match didn’t necessarily have one. I think me, her and Asuka had that triple threat with no fans and then went to that Money in the Bank. With her growth and platform and new level of confidence, you’re just going to see two titans going at it.”

Following Charlotte Flair dethroning Rhea Ripley in Ripley’s first WrestleMania match, albeit under unique circumstances, Triple H spoke about a larger plan for their story. Unfortunately, circumstances never allowed for the story to truly continue. 

Charlotte Flair believes that everything happens for a reason and that now, the story heading into their match in 2023 has even more depth to it because of the circumstances surrounding everything in 2020.

“Would Rhea and I have the opportunity to be going into a WrestleMania, I say headlining because she won the Rumble, if the NXT hadn’t happened? That’s what makes this even better because you see two girls that are both better than they were three years later, exponentially better.  Maybe we didn’t see the big picture or the full plan back then, but then I think this makes it even better. You can’t write this kind of story, it just happens organically. What’s meant to be is meant to be,” said Charlotte.

Rhea Ripley recently spoke about why she chose Charlotte Flair over Bianca Belair when she won the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble. For Ripley, it came down to one determining factor, revenge.

Ric Flair recently stated that he hopes his daughter and Rhea Ripley headline the first night of WrestleMania 39. Fans can read his comments here.

Fans can check out the full WWE WrestleMania 39 card here.