WWE legend Rhea Ripley unrecognisable in old snaps before gothic transformation

WWE fans have been left shocked after discovering how one of the women’s division’s biggest stars looked before her iconic gothic transformation.

Rhea Ripley, who is known in wrestling for her brute strength in the ring and menacing edgy look with a face tattoo and black lipstick, had a completely different style before she transformed into one of the sport’s most well-known names.

Snaps of the 26-year-old athlete boasting straight blonde hair with minimal makeup surprised followers, who are more used to her current look with short black hair and shaved sides alongside stretched earlobes and tattoos.

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Rhea explained how she hated the idea that women were supposed to look a certain way and said she was pleased to hear she had inspired others to do the same.

She toldFox Sports: “'The whole thing is women should have long hair. I hate that stereotype…

“This is my body, this is my choice. I do whatever the hell I want with my body and you can’t tell me what to do because I love myself, I don’t really care if you don’t love me.”

But fans gushed over her old photos nonetheless, with one commenting on her social media that she looked “beautiful” and another adding: “We want this diva. Not that goth look.”

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Rhea, who has enjoyed success with her iconic new look and now boasts over a million followers on Instagram, explained that she looked up to former WWE Divas Champion and three-time WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix when she was younger.

She explained: “She was different, she was built different, big, beefy and she had muscles and she was going out there and obliterating anyone in her path…

“To prove to everyone that they should be comfortable in their own skin and not care about what people think or say about them as long as they are happy within themselves and surround themselves with the right people, I think that's really special.”

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