Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch heated up a chilly Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night as WrestleMania 40 kicked off with the women’s world title on the line.
Ripley and Lynch put on a classic match for Philadelphia fans. It began with Lynch narrating an excerpt from his book, The Man: Not Your Average Girl, before entering the ring.
Motionless in White, the band known for the Ripley theme song, performed “Demon in Your Dreams” live.
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WrestleMania XL will be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on April 6, 2024. (Joe Campoare/USA Today Sports)
Then it was time to get to work.
As “The Eradicator” tried to inflict damage from the top rope, Lynch nudged Ripley’s wrist, grabbed her arm and dragged her down. Lynch hits a tornado DDT on Ripley, but only gets a two count.
Lynch had momentum. Ripley hangs on the middle rope and she hits a leg drop. She then slams Ripley into the barricade. When they got her back in the ring, Lynch hit a leg drop from the middle rope. However, it was only a 2 count again.
Ripley, wearing a “Mami” collar around her neck, grabbed Lynch and beat him as he tried to continue the assault. Ripley then caught Lynch with a knee kick. But the pin didn’t reach far enough.
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Rhea Ripley (black outfit) vs. Becky Lynch (red/white outfit) Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania XL on April 6, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Joe Campoare/USA Today Sports)
Lynch avoided an early Riptide attempt, and Lynch hit an armbar on Ripley’s wrist. Ripley picked Lynch up and hit him with a powerbomb twice, followed by a sitdown powerbomb.
Ripley and Lynch gave it everything they had, including slaps, headbutts, armbars, and finishing moves. Ripley set up a prison trap in the center of the ring, and Lynch nearly lost the match with a missed leg drop. Lynch somehow turned it into a pinning operation.
Lynch was 0.5 seconds away from taking the win from Ripley when he hit a manhandle slam, but Ripley was able to escape.
If not for Lynch’s resilience, Ripley might have won. She hit Riptide again late in the match, but Lynch missed the pin.
Lynch superplexes Ripley and brings her to disarm. Ripley fought back and hit the electric chair outside the ring. Ripley brings her back in the ring and Ripley hits a frog splash off the top rope.
Rhea Ripley retained the Women’s World Championship title with a victory over Becky Lynch at WrestleMania XL on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Joe Campoare/USA Today Sports)
Ripley wasn’t finished. After Lynch kicked out, the Irish star tried to take Ripley to the top rope. However, the manhandle slam is countered. Ripley caused two rip currents in a row.
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Ripley pinned Lynch to retain the title she first won from Charlotte Flair at the previous WrestleMania.
Is there anyone in the girls’ club who can stop Ripley?
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