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Greatest Moments From the WWE Australian Contingent

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Daniel Sinasac | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 9:00 AM ET

WWE has done a fantastic job of building its international component. For decades, the New York company was built predominantly with wrestlers from within the United States. That sentiment has changed dramatically, as we have been seeing some of the best wrestlers from all over the world ply their craft within World Wrestling Entertainment.

With Crown Jewel coming to us from the great country of Australia, it seems a fitting time to look at the contributions that the Land Down Under has made to WWE. There have been some outstanding athletes to enter the WWE, and they have produced some fantastic moments for the WWE Universe. Below, we will examine the greatest moments from WWE’s Australian contingent.

Rhea Ripley Wins The 2023 Royal Rumble

This name is going to appear a few times on this list, but given Rhea Ripley’s career, it’s challenging to categorize her accomplishments into a single heading.

Winning the Royal Rumble is a watershed moment for any wrestler lucky enough to achieve it. It’s the indication of faith both behind and in front of the camera. You become part of WWE lore and will forever be referred to as a Royal Rumble winner. Only 36 people can claim that they have won a Royal Rumble, and after winning the 2023 match, Rhea Ripley became one of them.

What also should be noted is the way in which Rhea Ripley won the Royal Rumble. As the first entrant, she lasted over an hour, eliminating seven women on her way to victory. It was an all-time performance from The Eradicator. One that will be talked about for years to come.

Rhea Ripley Steals The Show With Charlotte Flair

WrestleMania 39 was a very well-received show from the wrestling world. Many great moments filled both nights, but none were brighter than the SmackDown Women’s Championship Match from Night One.

After winning the Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley didn’t take long to make her choice to face The Queen. Charlotte Flair was the measuring stick of the women’s division, and defeating her at WrestleMania would mean everything. It was a fantastic back-and-forth match that lived up to expectations. It overshadowed their previous WrestleMania encounter and ended with a more favourable result for Rhea Ripley.

On that night, Rhea Ripley performed for the ages, defeating Charlotte and winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship. It was a passing of the torch moment that saw Rhea Ripley become a star.

The IIconics Make History At WrestleMania

Peyton Royce and Billy Kay, in their beginning, were not viewed seriously. They were always an entertaining duo, but they were used for more comedic purposes. It was a niche that worked for the tandem, but one that had a ceiling on it. For The IIconics to be taken seriously, they needed that big victory, and it came on one of the biggest nights in WWE history.

WrestleMania 35 was a massive night for WWE. It was the first time female wrestlers main-evented the show, and a night where the world saw the IIconics pull off a massive upset. It came in a fatal four-way match that included Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Tamina, Natalya, and Beth Phoenix. These were juggernaut teams that had a great case to win or retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships.

A slim chance was given to the IIconics to capture the titles, and the crowd erupted when they did. Not only was it a big upset, but it was also the first time Australian-born wrestlers won any championships at WrestleMania.

Buddy Murphy Makes It A First For Australia

Buddy Murphy was a groundbreaking wrestler for the country of Australia. He was not the first athlete from the Land Down Under, but he was the first one to attain an accolade that no other countryman had attained.

In NXT, Buddy Murphy formed an impressive tag team with partner Wesley Blake. They showed tremendous continuity and were top contenders for the NXT Tag Championships. It was a championship that did not elude the tandem for long as Blake and Murphy upended the Lucha Brothers to win the tag team straps.

It was a massive moment for the tag team, but personally a bigger one for Buddy Murphy. With that win, he became the first Australian to capture a championship in World Wrestling Entertainment. He won other championships within the company, but this one was by far the most significant stepping stone.

Big Bronson Reed Wins The North American Championship

Bronson Reed is a future star on the main roster. Since his debut, he has been a wrecking machine, and he has chiseled his place within the company. A reason why he was able to achieve this is the success he attained while on the Black and Gold brand, specifically winning the North American Championship.

Reed was the monster heel that NXT needed him to be. He was an imposing figure to stand across the ring from. Bronson Reed was a man that no one wanted to face, and his path of destruction was legendary. His biggest conquest was when he took on North American Champion Johnny Gargano inside a Steel Cage. It was a spirited contest that told the story of David taking on Goliath. A common wrestling trope, but one that was done incredibly well and was a highlight of the night.

This was the first major championship for Bronson Reed and the first time an Australian captured the North American Championship. It was the sign of bigger things for Bronson Reed as he became a man on the rise that evening.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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