Exclusive: Charlotte Flair Reveals Real Feelings About Rhea Ripley & Nikki A.S.H Ahead of WWE SummerSlam 2021

Charlotte Flair is preparing to go up against Raw Women's Champion Nikki A.S.H and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat Match this weekend at WWE SummerSlam 2021.

Both of Charlotte's opponents have gone through their own transformations in the last six months as they established themselves as leading figures in the Monday Night Raw Women's division.

Ripley made the permanent move to the Raw roster in March, after losing the NXT Women's Title at WrestleMania 36 against 'The Queen' last April, and defeated Asuka for the Raw Women's Title at WrestleMania 37.

Having collided multiple times with 'The Nightmare' in recent months on the WWE main roster, Charlotte can see just how far Ripley has come.

Speaking on a media call ahead of SummerSlam 2021, Charlotte told Cultaholic Wrestling's Mitch Waddon: "I'll start with Rhea. I could not be more proud of her. She has really come into her own.

"She's owned it and at Money In The Bank, I believe that was the first time...well, it was the first time that her and I, against each other, were able to show the world what we were capable of, in terms of having an audience. Because we know we have faced each other multiple times but without an audience. 

"Seeing her growth, seeing her take the ball and run with it, seeing her being thrown into high pressure situations - WrestleMania with me, WrestleMania with Asuka. We have been working live events against each other and, when I look across that ring, I go: 'she really is going to be the future of this division'. 

"And I'm extremely proud of her, set aside our storyline and set aside my character, she's really come a long way."

Meanwhile Nikki, in developing her 'Almost A Superhero' character, has gone from not featuring on WWE television for a number of weeks to winning the Women's Money In The Bank, defeating Charlotte for the Championship, and finding herself in a marquee match on one of WWE's biggest pay-per-views.

Speaking on the reigning champion, Charlotte added: "Nikki - you really just have to give her the proper credit for taking the character that she was and completely just going for it. Evolving, changing and saying: 'This is what I was. This is what I'm going to become.' 

"When we had those beat the clock moments against me and against Rhea going into Money In The Bank for Rhea and I, leading up to our story, you could just tell the crowd was a hundred percent behind her and she took that moment and ran with it, and here she is now,  the WWE Raw Women's Champion. 

"But even though I say these nice things about both of these ladies, I'm still walking out the 12 time Women's Champion at SummerSlam!"

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Fans can watch Charlotte Flair compete against Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H for the Raw Women's Championship at WWE SummerSlam on August 21, live in the US on Peacock and in other international markets on the WWE Network.