Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky Slay the Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel on the Aussie’s 29th Birthday

In the co-main event of Crown Jewel PLE in Australia, Rhea Ripley teamed up with Iyo Sky to defeat Asuka and Kairi Sane in a tag team bout.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky Slay the Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel on the Aussie’s 29th Birthday

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky (via WWE)

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Crown Jewel 2025 proved to be a spectacular show, with over 13,000 fans packing Perth’s RAC Arena and creating an electric atmosphere. The event was especially memorable for hometown star Rhea Ripley, who teamed with Iyo Sky to take down the formidable duo of Asuka and Kairi Sane in a thrilling women’s tag team match.

The bout served as the co-main event of WWE’s second ESPN PLE, following the already unforgettable clash between John Cena and AJ Styles. Yet Ripley and Sky’s match more than held its own, delivering action-packed sequences and high drama from start to finish.

Early in the match, Sky found herself isolated in the ring, reflecting the storyline of her friends turning against her. Ripley eventually tagged in, igniting the crowd with a fiery hot tag, only to be isolated by Asuka and Sane. The match quickly evolved into a fast-paced, back-and-forth contest that showcased both teams’ cohesion and athleticism.

As the bout progressed, Ripley focused on Sane after taking Asuka out of the action, landing a spinning backfist. Sky returned to the ring, while Ripley finished off Sane with a Razor’s Edge from the top rope for a near-fall. Sane fought back, tagging Asuka, but Sky countered with an Over the Moonsault, keeping the momentum with her team.

In the thrilling finale, it took two finishers to put an end to the Japanese duo. Ripley’s Riptide, followed by Sky’s Over the Moonsault, secured the pinfall victory. The match was also notable for several stiff strikes from Asuka, highlighting the Japanese duo’s discussion of their country’s hard-hitting wrestling style.

Ultimately, the match was a perfect homecoming for Ripley, cementing her status as a top-tier star in front of her home crowd and giving fans a memorable highlight from Crown Jewel 2025.

Rhea Ripley celebrates her 29th birthday in Australia with Iyo Sky and Cathy Kelley

Apart from returning to Australia for the first time since Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhea Ripley also celebrated her 29th birthday in her home state. While much of the spotlight during WWE’s Perth weekend centered on John Cena’s retirement tour and Cody Rhodes competing in a rare Australian match, there was no doubt who the biggest star of the weekend truly was.

Iyo Sky celebrating Rhea Ripley's birthday
Iyo Sky celebrating Rhea Ripley’s birthday (via Rhea Ripley’s Instagram)

Over the past few years, Ripley has firmly established herself not only as the best Australian pro wrestler of all time and one of the biggest female stars in the industry, but also as one of the most popular performers on the planet. And who could blame her for indulging in a cold one, especially while celebrating her birthday amid the excitement in Perth?

After her victory over the Kabuki Warriors, Iyo Sky surprised Ripley backstage with fairy bread and a birthday candle. The two shared a heartfelt hug and enjoyed the treat together, creating a touching moment amid the chaos of the event.

Sky wasn’t the only one to shower Ripley with birthday wishes. WWE personality Cathy Kelley also presented her with a special chocolate cake inscribed with “Ur Hot HBD.” Ripley shared the moment on Instagram with a heartfelt caption:

Thank you everyone for all the birthday love! I cannot begin to explain how overwhelming and special yesterday was! I love you all. How cute is this cake @cathykelley got me.

Rhea Ripley via Instagram Stories

For context, Ripley and Kelley share a close friendship and have been featured in several playful and flirtatious stories about each other. They even refer to each other as girlfriends. It will be interesting to see how Ripley’s storyline with Sky pans out after their dominating outing in the Land Down Under. 

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