Rhea Ripley Opens Up About Eating Disorder and Physique Transition

WWE superstar Rhea Ripley has publicly addressed her ongoing struggle with an eating disorder, clarifying the reasons behind her recent physical transformation amid widespread speculation on social media.

Ripley revealed that her changing physique is not due to back pain or steroid use, as some fans and commentators have speculated, but rather the result of an eating disorder she is actively working to manage. She emphasized that WWE athletes undergo regular testing and confirmed she is not using any prohibited substances.

The Australian wrestler first responded to comments from a fitness influencer who questioned her altered appearance on Instagram, stating simply: “Just a little eating disorder that I’m actively trying to handle.” Her candid reply sparked broader conversation about the pressures athletes face regarding body image in professional sports.

In a recent interview on the podcast Pod Meets World, Ripley elaborated on how external stressors impact her mental health and, in turn, her relationship with food, and training. She described her condition as fluctuating: “It goes through waves where it’s really difficult and then sometimes really easy.”

She noted that the past year has been particularly challenging, explaining that her emotional state is closely tied to the stability of her personal environment: “If my circle at home isn’t at peace, then that’s when I really struggle.” To counter this, Ripley relies on a strong support system, including her husband Buddy Matthews, close friend Tommy, and her dogs, with whom she trains daily.

Ripley also spoke candidly about the toll of social media, describing platforms like Twitter (now X) as emotionally taxing due to constant scrutiny: “As soon as I click on the app, it’s negative towards me. I can’t even escape it or doomscroll like a normal human without seeing things about me, about my body, about my booking, about me as a human.” She admitted that avoiding these platforms is sometimes necessary for her well-being.

Despite initially wanting to keep her struggles private, Ripley decided to speak publicly in hopes of helping others facing similar challenges: “I tried to keep the whole eating disorder quiet for a while because I’m still figuring it out. I try to be as vocal with my struggles as possible because if it’s going to help someone, then why not talk about it?” She reflected on how seeing her idols overcome adversity inspired her during difficult times in her youth.

She traced the roots of her disordered eating to feelings of lost control, particularly during high-stress periods such as international travel and intense media exposure: “Going to Australia and not being able to control how the crowd responds to my peers and pressuring them 24/7 and getting thrown into all this media for that, it was a lot all at once, and it kind of broke me for a little bit.”

Ripley has previously called out inappropriate fan behavior, including unsolicited mail sent to her residence and overwhelming crowds during WWE’s Paris tour, where she urged fans to treat wrestlers with basic courtesy and respect.

Her comments come just days before WrestleMania 42, where she will compete in her seventh appearance at the event, challenging Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship on Night 2 of the premium live event.