Rhea Ripley Admits She ‘Hated’ How She Looked During Early WWE NXT Days

Rhea Ripley is one of WWE’s most confident stars today, but she recently admitted that wasn’t always the case — especially during her early days trying to find her look in WWE NXT.

While speaking during a recent appearance with Complex, Ripley reflected on the pressure she felt when putting outfits together before events. She explained that those early experiences reminded her of a difficult time growing up, when insecurity made even simple things like shopping feel overwhelming.

Ripley said those moments brought back memories of feeling uncomfortable in her own skin, admitting that her confidence wasn’t always what fans see today.

“Oh, I'm pretty comfortable. And what were the NXT shopping days like though, dude? It was terrifying. It made me feel like honestly how I felt in high school when I was shopping for my graduation. I just felt so nervous and uneasy and I felt like I hated myself in everything that I was wearing. I thought my shoulders were too broad. I just thought I was like a weirdly shaped human. I just hated all the clothes on me. So shopping those days was terrifying.”

These days, Ripley has clearly found her identity and built one of the most recognizable looks in WWE. Her signature style and confidence have become a defining part of her character, but her comments show that journey didn’t come without struggles along the way.

Ripley’s honesty about her early insecurities adds another layer to her rise, showing how far she’s come from those uncertain NXT days to becoming one of WWE’s most dominant stars on the roster.

Do you think moments like this make Rhea Ripley more relatable to fans, or do you prefer when wrestlers keep their personal struggles private? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.