Rhea has been giving Simone advice (Credit: WWE)

Rhea Ripley is delighted to see Simone Johnson at the Performance Centre and she’s always on hand for advice and support.

The reigning NXT Women’s champion is close to Dwayne Johnson’s daughter – who has reported to WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to follow in her father’s legendary footsteps – and she has already been encouraging the fourth generation wrestler to find her own path.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Rhea said: ”I’m very, very excited for Simone. She’s one of my close friends, and I’m so happy that she’s here at the Performance Centre with us.



‘The main thing I always tell her whenever I do see her is to just ignore the drama, stay in your own lane, work the hardest and try your best. Just succeed and excel within your own brackets of talent.


Simone needs to block out negativity (Credit: WWE)

‘Just try and not let everything get to you, because that’s the hardest bit in any sporting background. It’s just the drama that comes with sport unfortunately, and the one thing I’m trying to get her to stay away from.’

The 23-year-old star knows all about the hard work that goes into making it in the WWE – and she’s also a perfect example of how passion and dedication will pay off.

In April, Rhea will be defending her championship against Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, which will mark the first time a title from the black and gold brand will be contested on the show of shows.





I didnât scratch, claw, and fall down as many times as you did to gain respect?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Iâve made my name from absolutely nothing.

I didnât get my WWE contract handed to me on a golden platter because of my last name! https://t.co/l2MUPIQxoY — RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) February 18, 2020

This week on Monday Night Raw, the challenger hit out at her upcoming foe – and Ripley later responded on Twitter as she hyped up her own journey while claiming Ric Flair’s daughter only made it as far as she has because of her surname and family legacy.

Clarifying her comments, she added: ‘My whole Twitter thread that I posted, it was all from the heart. I’m not trying to discredit Charlotte for anything, it was just something that I wrote in there.

‘But she has definitely worked hard to be here – she has accomplished so much in her time in WWE, and just excelled to such heights. The stuff about mself, that is such – it’s just from the heart and it’s how I felt, especially after that promo. I don’t know what it was, but it pulled my heartstrings and I felt like I had to tweet something about it.’

* NXT airs every Wednesday night at 1am on BT Sport 1.

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