Rhea Ripley has become one of the most recognized names in professional wrestling, and fans are just as curious about her personal life as her in-ring dominance. The Rhea Ripley husband story centers on Buddy Matthews, an AEW star whose own career has run parallel to hers for years. This article breaks down how they met, their wedding, and where things stand today.
Rhea Ripley Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Demi Bennett |
| Nickname/Stage Name | Rhea Ripley |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession/Occupation | Professional Wrestler |
| Years Active | 2017–present |
| Spouse/Partner | Buddy Matthews (Matthew Adams) |
| Notable Works | WWE Women’s World Championship, NXT Women’s Championship, Inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion |
| Awards/Honors | ESPN Female Wrestler of the Year |
| Social Media | Instagram, X |
How Rhea Ripley And Buddy Matthews Met
Their romance began around 2021, when both were still building their names on the Australian indie circuit before either reached the main roster. The origin story is one fans find genuinely charming, since it wasn’t love at first sight.
Ripley has admitted she disliked Matthews when they first crossed paths, joking about how a forearm exchange in the ring left a poor first impression. That tension eventually turned into mutual respect once she saw his in-ring ability up close.
By June 2021, the two had gone public with their relationship, surprising fans who hadn’t picked up on the connection. Their careers overlapped in interesting ways too, since Matthews previously wrestled as Buddy Murphy and picked up the WWE Cruiserweight Championship back in 2018, years before he and Ripley confirmed things.
The 8-year age gap between them rarely comes up as an issue in interviews. If anything, both wrestlers describe their bond as something that grew naturally out of shared experience in a male-dominated sport.
The Engagement Story
Buddy Matthews proposed to Rhea Ripley in August 2023 while the couple was vacationing at Cocoa Beach, Florida. The ring-reveal came through an Instagram photo that quickly went viral among wrestling fans.
Ripley’s caption, a cheeky “Pure f—ing happiness,” matched the excitement in the announcement itself. This came roughly one year after they’d first gone public, giving fans a full arc from rumor to relationship to engagement.
The proposal timing mattered too. It arrived not long after Matthews had left WWE and signed with AEW, giving the couple a fresh chapter both personally and professionally.
The Wedding Details
Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews got married on June 23, 2024, in a private, gothic-themed ceremony that fit their personalities perfectly. Details about the venue were never disclosed, but photos confirmed the aesthetic.
Ripley wore a black off-the-shoulder gown paired with a bouquet of black roses instead of the traditional white most brides choose. Matthews matched the theme in a black suit, and the joint Instagram caption read simply, “Til death.”
The wedding came about ten months after their engagement, and the announcement dropped on a Wednesday, drawing reactions from wrestlers across both WWE and AEW. Bianca Belair and Dominik Mysterio were among those who sent congratulations.
Interestingly, the wedding date lined up with a storyline knee injury Ripley was dealing with on WWE television, which added a layer of real-life and kayfabe overlap that fans enjoyed pointing out.
Career And Injury Timeline Around The Wedding
Rhea Ripley’s shoulder injury sidelined her not long after the wedding, ending a Women’s Championship reign that had lasted 379 days. She last wrestled before the injury on April 15, 2024, and the title was vacated by August 2024.
Buddy Matthews, meanwhile, was thriving in AEW as part of House of Black, capturing the AEW World Trios Championship alongside his stable. His in-storyline dominance continued even as Ripley recovered off WWE TV.
During her recovery, Ripley was seen with her arm in a sling, a stark contrast to the dominant persona fans knew from her six-man matches and title runs. The report on her injury coincided closely with SummerSlam season, meaning she missed one of WWE’s biggest events of the year.
Could Rhea Ripley And Buddy Matthews Work Together On-Screen?
Fans have wondered for years whether WWE and AEW could ever cross paths enough to let this real-life couple share a program. Since Matthews hasn’t wrestled for WWE, and Ripley has never appeared in AEW, this remains speculative.
In interviews, including one on the Chris Van Vliet podcast, Ripley has mentioned that “we could do something on TV” someday, though nothing organic has come from it yet. She’s since been paired with Dominik Mysterio in an on-screen program, which is a different partner than her real-life husband.
Recreating an authentic on-screen dynamic with Matthews would require either promotion to loosen exclusivity rules or one of them to switch companies, neither of which seems imminent as of now.
Celebrating Their Second Wedding Anniversary
The couple’s second wedding anniversary approached in February 2025, though health issues were part of the picture. Matthews was reportedly recovering from health issues around AEW Grand Slam Australia and had been medically cleared.
Ripley posted an Instagram tribute calling him “the love of my life” and writing “2 years… love you,” to which Matthews responded warmly. It’s clear from these public exchanges that they lean on each other during setbacks, professional or otherwise, describing their bond as “ride or die forever.”
She’s also spoken about helping him train during recovery periods, showing a level of support that goes beyond the usual celebrity-couple Instagram posts.
Why Rhea Ripley Says She “Hated Him At First”
This is one of the more entertaining parts of their story. Ripley has said in interviews that her first opinion of Matthews wasn’t positive, largely stemming from a rough in-ring encounter during her recovery from an earlier injury.
She’s joked, “I was like, sir, how dare you,” describing the forearm exchange that first put him on her radar. Her opinion changed quickly once she saw the extent of his in-ring ability and how much effort he put into his craft.
Now she calls him “the best husband I could ever ask for,” noting that he does everything for her, a complete reversal from that early dislike born out of competition rather than personality.
Podcast Insights On Their Career Dynamic
On Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Ripley opened up about how career-gap dynamics work in their relationship. She noted that even though her WWE run has put her on a bigger stage, it’s never threatened what they have.
She described their relationship as “what a relationship should be,” emphasizing mutual comfort with each other hitting peaks at different times. This kind of grounded perspective is rare in an industry that thrives on rivalry and comparison.
Ripley’s comfort with supporting his AEW growth, even while her own WWE platform scales higher, speaks to a maturity that fans have picked up on across multiple interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Rhea Ripley’s Husband?
Rhea Ripley’s husband is Buddy Matthews, whose real name is Matthew Adams. He is an AEW wrestler known for his time in House of Black and previously wrestled in WWE as Buddy Murphy.
When Did Rhea Ripley Get Married?
Rhea Ripley married Buddy Matthews on June 23, 2024, in a private gothic-themed ceremony. The couple had been engaged since August 2023.
How Old Is Rhea Ripley?
Rhea Ripley was born in 1996, making her in her late twenties. Her real name is Demi Bennett, and she is Australian by nationality.
How Tall Is Rhea Ripley?
Rhea Ripley stands at approximately 5’10” (178 cm), which contributes to her physically dominant presence in the ring compared to many of her opponents.
What Was Rhea Ripley Like Before WWE?
Before signing with WWE, Rhea Ripley competed on the Australian independent wrestling circuit, where she first crossed paths with Buddy Matthews. She made her main roster debut after progressing through NXT and NXT UK, where she became the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion.
Are There Verified Rhea Ripley Leaked Or Naked Photos?
No credible or verified sources confirm the existence of such content. Claims like these often circulate as clickbait or misinformation, and fans should be cautious of unverified accounts making these claims.
What Is Rhea Ripley’s Relationship Status Now?
Rhea Ripley remains married to Buddy Matthews, and the two continue to publicly support each other’s careers despite competing for different wrestling promotions.
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