10 Matches WWE Could Have Booked For WrestleMania 38
6. SmackDown Women's Championship: Charlotte Flair © Vs. Rhea Ripley
Ronda Rousey’s mainstream crossover appeal cannot be questioned. Her ability to galvanize an angle with Charlotte Flair that doesn’t also feature Becky Lynch, on the other hand…
When Charlotte spent her 2020 Royal Rumble win dethroning NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36, most presumed she was chasing her father’s record as 16-time World Champion. When Charlotte dropped the title to Io Shirai two months later, WWE started dismissing both of her NXT reigns, instead referring to ‘The Queen’ as a “13-time champion”. In other words, the initial title change at WrestleMania was entirely pointless.
WrestleMania two years hence would have been a perfect time to rectify this oversight.
Since becoming the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion in 2018, Rhea Ripley has been quickly and quietly racking up the accolades. Reigning with the NXT, RAW and Women’s Tag Team Championships since, ‘The Nightmare’ snapped up every title at her disposal save one. A Royal Rumble win after a silver medal finish in 2021 would have been just the ticket to send her after the SmackDown Women’s Championship in Dallas. Given WWE’s affinity for Grand Slam champions, Rhea Ripley finally toppling Flair to become WWE’s first woman to also hold NXT UK Women’s gold would’ve been something special.
Consult with Money In The Bank 2021 for reference on Charlotte and Rhea’s ability to ignite a crowd. It’s an intangible Ripley has demonstrated regularly since and one Rousey still can’t quite access; getting the fans behind you and keeping them there.