Report: Fans In WWE ThunderDome Told To Cheer Rhea Ripley

While Rhea Ripley was a babyface for much of her NXT run, WWE has opted to position The Nightmare as a heel since she debuted on Monday Night Raw. Ripley immediately displayed heel-like tendencies when she challenged Asuka to a Raw Women's Title match at WrestleMania, and her heelish tactics have only become more apparent in the following weeks. 

Despite the heel presentation, WWE seemingly wants fans to treat the new Raw Women's Champion as a babyface. Bryan Alvarez reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the host who helps manage the WWE ThunderDome told viewers to cheer for The Nightmare. 

Alvarez said: "The ThunderDome host that tells everybody what to do was telling everyone to cheer Rhea Ripley even though if you watch the match with Asuka she was clearly positioned as being a heel. So, I don't know what's going on."

If this is just a temporary measure or part of a possible babyface turn for Ripley ultimately remains to be seen. She could be positioned more as a babyface in the coming weeks ahead of WrestleMania Backlash, though, particularly as Charlotte Flair has fully embraced an arrogant heel persona.