WWE stars Grayson Waller, Rhea Ripley have shoeys as excitement builds for Perth Elimination Chamber

Caleb Runciman and Zach MargoliusThe West Australian
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Camera IconThe atmosphere was electric outside Optus Stadium when WWE fans watched their favourite wrestlers face off ahead of the Perth Elimination Chamber. Credit: Jackson Flindell

The atmosphere was electric outside Optus Stadium when WWE fans watched their favourite wrestlers face off ahead of the Perth Elimination Chamber.

Enthusiasts from around the globe have travelled to Perth ahead of the Saturday night showdown, which will see Rhea Ripley defend her championship against Nia Jax at Optus Stadium.

Logan Paul, Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley and Kevin Owens will take on the six-man Elimination Chamber match to determine who will fight Seth Rollins for the WWE Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.

One of many fans who had fallen in love with the wrestling universe was five-year-old Jaden and his father Phil.

“I’ve been following wrestling for about 25 years and sort of carried it on by watching it at home — it’s pretty unreal to share this sort of thing with my son,” Phil said.

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Camera IconWWE Elimination Chamber press event at Optus Stadium Five-year-old fan Jaden. Credit: Kelsey Reid/ Kelsey Reid

Jaden said he wouldn’t be able to handle his excitement if The Rock made a surprise appearance.

“I wish he could fly over to Perth to beat Roman Reigns,” the young fan said.

It comes as Hollywood heavyweight and wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson featured in a cryptic social media video saying he would personally fly over to Perth if his fellow wrestlers engaged in any “trash talk”.

“As a matter of fact, if they talk trash, The Rock will fly down there to Perth before that interview is over and he’ll do it,” he said.

Camera IconWWE Elimination Chamber press event at Optus Stadium Patrick Essavian, Christopher Ghalloub and Anthony Ghalloub. Credit: Kelsey Reid/ Kelsey Reid

The West spoke to several fans who said they didn’t blink an eye before they booked tickets to Perth’s WWE event.

“I want to see the Grayson Wallace show, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins ... and The Rock, if he turns up,” said Anthony Ghalloub, who flew from Parramatta to be here.

Mr Ghalloub was one of many who were dressed to impress as he strolled through the stadium grounds with his very own WWE belt.

Mega-fans on the scene included Pat Hussen, who dressed as WWE icon Ray Mysterio, while others toured the grounds with a Prime energy drink bottle in hand — a nod to online sensation turned WWE wrestler Logan Paul.

Camera IconWWE Elimination Chamber press event at Optus Stadium Pat Hussen. Credit: Kelsey Reid/ Kelsey Reid
Camera IconWWE Elimination Chamber press event at Optus Stadium Logan Paul. Credit: Kelsey Reid/ Kelsey Reid

Paul was met with anger by the crowd when he appeared on stage at the free press event before he began talking smack about Perth, which included referring to Quokkas and West Australians as “rats”.

“I’d rather be in the middle of the ocean, this place sucks,” he said.

“Perth, make no mistake. I’m only here cause I have to be.”

A fight between Logan Paul, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens caused WWE chief content officer and hall-of-famer Triple H to step in and stop the commotion as fans went crazy for any glimpse of action.

World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins donned a flashy open-chested suit and his golden heavyweight belt as he greeted fans with his signature swagger, conducting the boisterous chorus of fans as his entrance song played.

“Loving the coffee, loving the people, loving the food,” he said.

He teased appearances from Cody Rhodes and The Rock, with the latter naturally stirring up the crowd.

Camera IconNews. WWE Event at Optus Stadium. WWE Wrestler Rhea Ripley. Credit: Jackson Flindell/ Jackson Flindell
Camera IconWWE Elimination Chamber press event at Optus Stadium Logan Paul, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens' fight is broken up by Triple H. Credit: Kelsey Reid/ Kelsey Reid

Homegrown champ Ripley was adored by the crowd with the chant “We love Rhea” — one of many that echoed around the oval.

Taking a sip of Logan Paul’s Prime Energy drink, she wasn’t too complimentary of the star’s investment.

“It doesn’t taste great anyway,” she said.

Camera IconNews. WWE Event. Grayson Waller and Rhea Ripley doing a shoey. Credit: Jackson Flindell/ Jackson Flindell

After a few choice words to her rival, Ripley then squirted the rest of her Prime bottle in the face of Jax.

“Splash, splash, b...h,” she laughed.

The event ended with an iconic shoey from Aussies Rhipley and Grayson Waller, which was met with a raucous applause in true Aussie fashion.

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