Rhea Ripley crowned Australia's first female WWE world champion

Rhea Ripley has been crowned Australia's first female WWE world champion after defeating Asuka in the semi-main event of WrestleMania 37.

The hulking Adelaide fighter landed the killer blow on her Japanese opponent when she unleashed a 'riptide', one of her signature moves, on the second night of WWE's marquee event.

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Ripley is one of two Australian WWE world champions along with Melbourne's Buddy Murphy, a former cruiserweight champion.

However, the Raw women's championship title is the most illustrious ever won by an Australian.

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Ripley was only hauled in to fight Asuka because Charlotte Flair, the daughter of legendary American wrestler Ric Flair, had withdrawn from the match due to medical issues.