Backstage Update On Ronda Rousey's WWE Direction
Latest on WWE's Ronda Rousey, her team with Shayna Baszler, WrestleMania 39 - and more.
Ronda Rousey actively pushed for her current tag team run with Shayna Baszler in WWE, reports Fightful Select.
The outlet states that Rousey preferred this route following multiple changes to her creative plans in recent months, with the duo still slated to challenge for the Women's Tag Team Championships at some stage.
Fightful had previously reported that Rousey was due to defend the SmackDown Women's Championship at Royal Rumble 2023. This changed in December, when creative for WrestleMania 39 season couldn't be agreed upon, leading to some reshuffling.
Rhea Ripley was originally pencilled-in to win the women's Royal Rumble and challenge Rousey for the SmackDown belt at 'Mania. Charlotte Flair, meanwhile, would go back to Raw, facing Bianca Belair for the Raw strap. Instead of going down this route, WWE fast-forwarded Rousey vs. Rodriguez to the 30 December 2022 episode of SmackDown. Ronda went over, but dropped the SmackDown Women's Championship seconds later, with the returning Charlotte taking the gold.
Charlotte's win against Rousey wasn't booked until the day she went over - and Flair was not clued in ahead of time.
This change of plans preceded a weeks-long absence for Rousey. When she returned, WWE went all-in on her alliance with Baszler, formalising the real-life friends as an onscreen tag team.
Baszler and Rousey will compete in the Women's WrestleMania Showcase match at 'Mania 39, competing against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya and Shotzi, and one more team TBC. Flair defends her SmackDown Women's Title against Ripley, while Belair puts her Raw gold on the line against Asuka. Women's Tag Team Champions Lita and Becky Lynch, meanwhile, are in a trios match pitting them and Trish Stratus against Damage CTRL.