Rhea Ripley opens up about her Mae Young Classic bout with Tegan Nox and more.
In just a few hours, the stars of the NXT U.K. brand take center stage for NXT U.K. TakeOver: Blackpool at the Empress Ballroom which streams live on the WWE Network. One of the featured matches on the card is the NXT U.K. Women's Championship match between the champion Rhea Ripley and the challenger Toni Storm. Rhea defeated Storm in the finals of the NXT U.K. Women's Title tournament this past August at the NXT U.K. TV tapings in Birmingham.
Rhea shared her thoughts about stepping into the ring with Toni again on a bigger stage while she was interviewed by The Mirror and said every member of the NXT U.K. roster has earned this moment.
"Yeah it's going to be crazy and I can't wait to get back in the ring with Toni. NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, the first ever NXT UK TakeOver, is going to be absolutely insane and I'm so, so excited and proud to be a part of it. All the athletes down here have worked so hard for this opportunity and I'm so happy it's finally coming true for them." She said.
Just a few weeks before Rhea Ripley captured the NXT U.K. Women's Championship, she was a part of the Mae Young Classic tournament tapings at Full Sail. During her quarterfinal matchup against Tegan Nox, Tegan suffered a number of injuries that will keep her out of action for an unknown amount of time. While Tegan was yelling in pain because of the injuries, Rhea stayed in character but she said it was very difficult to do so because she truly felt bad for Tegan.
"No you can't. I was so pumped for that match as well. Having that happen, especially to Tegan after it already happening to her... it's a horrible injury no matter what, but it to happen twice to the same person in that amount of time, my heart goes out to her, it really does." Rhea said. "I felt so sorry for her. I knew how much the Mae Young Classic meant to her and coming back meant to her. She loves this business, she loves everything about it and just wanted to get back in the ring and I felt really sorry and just sad for her because it got taken away that quick. It was really hard not to show any emotion in that ring but on the inside I was dying. I wished I could have just gone and picked her up and carried her backstage but I couldn't. My mind wouldn't let me." Rhea shared.
To check out the full interview with "The Moshpit Kid" Rhea Ripley, click here, and the NXT U.K. TakeOver: Blackpool pre-show begins at 1:30 PM EST and you can view that here on Fightful.
