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WWE Hall of Famer Says Rhea Ripley is a Modern Hulk Hogan

WWE Hall of Famer Says Rhea Ripley is a Modern Hulk Hogan

Newsweek20-05-2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Public opinion of Hulk Hogan has been fairly negative in recent years for his actions outside the ring, as well as his history of politicking backstage.
Despite this, there is one thing that Hogan did unbelievably well that many WWE Superstars have trouble matching to this day: his aura and presentation.
Hogan remains one of the most popular professional wrestlers and biggest draws in the history of the sport, and his influence on the spectacle of pro wrestling can still be seen to this day.
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For one WWE Hall of Famer, one modern wrestler who perfectly encapsulates a similar aura is none other than Rhea Ripley.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Rhea Ripley enters the ring during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Rhea Ripley enters the ring during Night One of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
WWE/Getty Images
During an episode of the Kliq This podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash gave massive kudos to Ripley, saying she is one of the most impressive wrestlers working today.
"Rhea, so athletic," Nash said, per Angel Aramboles of Wrestlingnews.co. "She's Rhea. Looks like she could, like she could go against probably 50% of the male roster."
"I remember when I was a mark, and I saw it went down to Joe Lewis," Nash continued. "I saw Hogan work, and I swore Hogan was six nine, because his was, he was just bigger than life, his charisma, everything else.
"It's the same thing with Rhea. I thought Rhea was like a six-foot 185-pound girl, and she's probably five seven, right? You know, she's just, but, but on TV, the way she moves, you know, she's just, she comes across as big of a life. Which, which stars do."
"She's so super over," Nash concluded. "I'm just a mark for her. She pulls everything off."
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Of all the wrestlers on the WWE roster today, it's hard to think of a Superstar more beloved and dominant than Rhea Ripley.
Originally debuting during the Mae Young Classic in 2017, Ripley has gone on to claim every major title in WWE, including the WWE Raw Women's Championship, the Women's World Championship twice, the NXT Women's Championship, and the NXT Women's Championship.
Additionally, Ripley won the Women's Royal Rumble in 2023.
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For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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