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Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair make WWE 2K history. Deonna Purrazzo and Toni Storm will meet face-to-face. Saraya Saber speaks with WrestleZone, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Rhea Ripley & Bianca Belair Set For Cover Of WWE 2K24 Deluxe Edition
WWE kicked off this week with a major announcement, revealing that Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley will be gracing the covers of the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game.
WWE’s yearly video game will be released on Tuesday, March 5, with the Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania Editions. Three days later, the standard edition will drop as well. As previously announced, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will be featured on the cover of the standard game edition. “The EST” Bianca Belair and WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley will share the cover of the deluxe edition. This also marks the first time in history that two women have been positioned on a WWE 2K cover.
“This is an incredible milestone in my career. I’m so excited to show the world why WWE 2K24 is a must-have and the EST game for every WWE fan and gamer,” Belair told WWE.com.
A proud accomplishment
Ripley echoed similar sentiments, stating that she was proud to add this accomplishment to her budding resume. “I’ve proven myself to be the most dominant competitor to ever hold the WWE Women’s World Championship,” Ripley said. “Earning the accolade of WWE 2K24 cover Superstar is only fitting. I’m proud to add it to my list of accomplishments.”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has since commented on the news, congratulating all three athletes for achieving this honor.
“I’d say @CodyRhodes, @BiancaBelairWWE and @RheaRipley_WWE becoming @WWEgames cover stars is “well-deserved,” but that would be a massive understatement,” Levesque wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Congratulations to three game-changing Superstars that have earned the right to be the faces of #WWE2K24.
Coming off this exciting news, Bianca Belair will shift her focus to the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. There, she and 29 other women will vie for a title shot of their choosing. As of this writing, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Nia Jax have also declared themselves for the match.
The 2024 Royal Rumble takes place this Saturday from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
RELATED: Ivy Nile Was A Royal Rumble Alternate In 2023, Hopes To Be In The Match This Year
Deonna Purrazzo & Toni Storm To Meet Face-To-Face
Deonna Purrazzo made it clear that she is coming after AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm.
On the heels of her victory over Red Velvet on AEW Collision, Deonna Purrazzo was tasked with facing Anna Jay on last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. After conquering “The Queenslayer,” Purrazzo then pivoted her attention to the AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm. Purrazzo previously called out Storm during her AEW return earlier this month.
During a post-match interview, Purrazzo pointed out that Storm had changed in recent years, much like Purrazzo has herself. While Storm may have known Purrazzo from their past interactions, Purrazzo insisted that Storm has yet to properly meet the technically-savvy, present-day “Virtuosa.” In response, Storm referred to her as an “artificially tanned hag.” Storm’s ally, Mariah May, then launched a shoe in Purrazzo’s direction.
Tomorrow evening, Purrazzo and Storm will now meet face-to-face in an interview segment on AEW Dynamite.
RELATED: Deonna Purrazzo Explains Why It Felt Like The Time To Leave TNA
Interviews
“The Super Saber” Saraya Saber spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about Effy’s Big Gay Brunch 8, debuting on the 2023 QWI, how the likes of Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada helped reignite her love for wrestling, drawing gear inspiration from Dragon Ball Z, and more.
TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim chatted with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about TNA officially being back, being emotional about Hard To Kill, potential changes to the on-air product, talks of TNA staples coming back, her physical health and in-ring career, and more
WWE RAW star Ivy Nile joined Steve Fall of WrestlingNewsCo to discuss the 2024 Royal Rumble event, training with WWE Hall of Famer Kane, the possibility of another WWE all-women’s pay-per-view, challenging Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship, and more.
Former TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion Kiler Kelly appeared on The Shakkas Den to discuss teaming with Masha Slamovich, being a #TNA Knockout, horror movies, the new era of TNA Wrestling, and more.
WWE SmackDown Shotzi spoke with Jim Varsallone about the 2024 Royal Rumble, marrying in Las Vegas, the upcoming SmackDown episode in Miami, her journey in WWE, competing in the 2023 Women’s WarGames match, and more.
