Summary

Nikki Blackheart, a rising prospect who recently completed her first WWE tryout and is reportedly expected to sign with the company, has singled out Rhea Ripley as the one opponent she has wanted to face since the very beginning of her career.

Blackheart only began training following WrestleMania 39, where it was Ripley's match against Charlotte Flair that lit the spark. Speaking on The Heavyweight Commentary show, she cited that match as the moment she decided she wanted to be a wrestler, and Ripley as the person she has pointed toward ever since.

Quote from Nikki Blackheart

Blackheart explained her pick when asked who her dream match would be:

"My goodness, because the match that did it for me, where I was like, I'm going to become a wrestler, it was Rhea Ripley versus Charlotte Flair. But dream opponent, definitely Rhea. That's since I started. I mean, as I've been learning more and watching more and being exposed to it, there's other people that I would love to work. But as far as the first person that I said it would be an honor to learn from and be in the ring with, I would say Rhea."

What This Could Mean for Blackheart and Ripley

Blackheart's WWE tryout reportedly went well enough that a signing is expected to follow. If she does land a contract, a future program with Ripley would carry genuine narrative weight, given that the WrestleMania 39 match was publicly the reason she got into the business. Ripley, who has been vocal about her own position at the top of WWE's women's division, would be a credible ceiling for any newcomer working her way up through NXT.

It is early days for Blackheart, and a match with Ripley remains a long-term goal rather than an imminent booking. But knowing the origin story behind it adds a layer of interest to watching how her development unfolds.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.