Rhea Ripley today is not just a dominant champion and one of the most recognizable stars in WWE, but also a true icon of alternative style in modern pop culture. Her image, imbued with the aesthetics of gothic, punk, and heavy metal, is impossible to imagine without an impressive collection of body art. However, as it recently turned out, this collection could have included a very unexpected and even ironic element. During a recent stream with the well-known media personality Nina Drama on the Kick platform, Ripley admitted that at the dawn of her wrestling passion, she almost got a tattoo of the Pepsi logo, inspired by her idol – the legendary CM Punk.
Fan devotion or aesthetic impulse: the story of a failed tattoo
For Rhea Ripley, who grew up watching the stars of past wrestling eras, CM Punk was not just an athlete, but a symbol of uncompromising attitude and individuality. His famous Pepsi logo tattoo on his left shoulder became one of the most recognizable visual markers in the industry. Ripley was such a fan of Punk’s image that she seriously considered getting a similar symbol tattooed on her finger. “I wanted to do it because I grew up watching wrestling, and Punk was one of my favorite fighters. I was thinking about getting a small Pepsi logo on my finger. Yes, right there. He has this huge Pepsi tattoo because he adheres to the straight edge philosophy, and I was thinking, ‘I love CM Punk, I want the same tattoo.’ It’s funny that at the time I didn’t even drink Pepsi!” Rhea shared on air.
Expert analysis: why logos become part of tattoo culture
From the perspective of professional tattoo anthropology, the desire to get a corporate logo tattooed without a direct connection to the brand is a classic example of “secondary symbolization.” In this case, Rhea Ripley was interested not in the drink itself or the values of PepsiCo, but in the tattoo as an attribute of a specific person. In tattoo culture, this phenomenon is often found among fans who copy the work of their idols to feel a sense of connection to their life path or ideology.
It is worth noting the context of CM Punk’s tattoo itself. His choice of Pepsi was a response to Brian Baker’s (guitarist for Minor Threat and Bad Religion) Coca-Cola tattoo. For Punk, it was a symbol of his commitment to the Straight Edge movement (abstinence from alcohol and drugs) – he chose a “soda” as an antithesis to bad habits. For the young Ripley, this symbol simply became a mark of quality and coolness of her idol.
Technical aspect: finger tattoos
The choice of location for the potential tattoo – the finger – also deserves attention. In professional circles, such tattoos are called “job stoppers,” although this rule has long ceased to apply in the world of wrestling. However, finger tattoos have a number of technical nuances:
- High regeneration rate: The skin on the hands regenerates the fastest, causing small details (such as elements of the Pepsi logo) to quickly lose their clarity.
- Pain threshold: Fingers are one of the most sensitive areas due to the proximity of bones and nerve endings.
- Risk of pigment “blurring”: Thin lines on the side surfaces of the fingers often turn into indistinct smudges within a couple of years.
It is likely that the absence of this tattoo has only benefited Ripley’s image. Today, her style has evolved towards darker, more detailed blackwork and realism, which much better emphasizes her “Mommy” gimmick.
Style comparison: Rhea Ripley vs CM Punk
If we analyze the current visual appearance of both athletes, we can see how their paths have diverged in their choice of body art:
| Characteristic | Rhea Ripley | CM Punk |
|---|---|---|
| Dominant style | Dark gothic, ornamental, realism | Traditional (Old School), pop art |
| Color palette | Primarily black (Blackwork) | Bright, saturated colors |
| Meaning | Inner strength, overcoming, mysticism | Life principles, personal attachments |
Ultimately, abandoning the Pepsi tattoo was a step for Ripley towards finding her own uniqueness. Instead of being a “female version” of her idol, she created a completely original visual code that is now copied by thousands of fans worldwide. The story of the failed finger logo remains just a funny anecdote, reminding us that even the toughest champions were once just enthusiastic teenagers who dreamed of being like their heroes.