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Rhea Ripley: Candice LeRae Deserves More Opportunities in WWE

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Kellie Crawford | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 5:52 PM ET

Rhea Ripley says Candice LeRae is underrated and deserves more TV time and opportunities.
She's a locker-room leader who wanted a longer match vs Maxxine Dupri to help younger talent.
Ripley and LeRae have NXT history; LeRae hasn't wrestled since July's Evolution - fans hope WWE gives her more.

It’s safe to admit that WWE Superstar Rhea Ripleyhas had a pretty good WWE run so far. The 28-year-old is a two-time WWE Women’s World Champion, as well as both NXT UK and NXT Women’s Champion. Even with all of her accolades, Ripley has always known how lucky she is, and would like to see some of that opportunity given to other talent in the women’s roster, like Candice LeRae.

Rhea Ripley Thinks Candice LeRae Is Underrated

During an interview with SPORTBible, Ripley was asked which WWE women’s wrestler is underrated. At first, she said it was hard to pinpoint, then spoke about LeRae’s lack of opportunities. She said:

“It’s hard to pinpoint anyone specifically, but I feel like there’s a lot, especially in the women’s division. There are so many women that I know are so amazing at what they do, and they don’t get enough TV time or the opportunities to really show everyone what they can do. Someone that I love is Candice LeRae, and going through NXT with her and how her brain works and how she goes out there, and she’s like the vet in the ring, she knows what to do and she keeps everyone calm and she’s got ideas and it’s just like I wish that someone like her would get more of an opportunity.” (h/t: Fightful)

LeRae is just one of the latest stars that Ripley has brought up. As noted in an interview earlier this month, Ripley spoke about how she wished her December 2023 match against Maxxine Dupri had been longer — it was only around three minutes long. Ripley wished she had helped her more. So it just shows that Ripley is a locker room leader.

Rhea Ripley And Candice LeRae’s Match History

The last time Rhea Ripley and Candice LeRae were in the ring together was on the January 4, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The match saw LeRae, Liv Morgan, and Nia Jax defeat Ripley, Naomi, and Bianca Belair.

Their first WWE match was all the way back in October 2017 in WWE NXT, where they were part of a WWE NXT Women’s Title Qualifying Battle Royal match. It’s also worth mentioning that when Ripley was the NXT UK Women’s Champion, she defended her title against LeRae at a house show in November 2018.

So the two do have a history in matches against each other, as well as tag teaming in a few matches while they were both in NXT.

While Ripley was just in action on this past WWE RAW in a match against Roxanne Perez, LeRae hasn’t been in action since the July WWE PLE Evolution. LeRae was one of the entrants in the Battle Royal. So, hopefully, WWE listens to Ripley and LeRae's fans and gives her more of a shot.

This article first appeared on The Sportster and was syndicated with permission.

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