Miranda Salinas’ solution for countering the size and strength advantage of the tournament’s youngest competitor, 20-year-old Australian Rhea Ripley, was to fight dirty. The strategy worked intermittently, but Salinas’ win-at-all-costs approach couldn’t contain Ripley’s athleticism.
With the WWE Universe bellowing out Aussie chants to voice their support for Ripley, the former soccer standout showed off her kicking acumen, launching big boots and dropkicks at Salinas. A sky-high full-nelson slam secured the victory and Ripley’s spot in the Second Round.