12 Early Predictions For WWE WrestleMania 35

4. Charlotte Flair Vs. Ronda Rousey - RAW Women's Title Match

Triple H Conor McGregor
WWE

It seemed pencilled-in the moment Asuka tapped to Charlotte's "Figure Six" in New Orleans. Charlotte ended the most legendary streak in WWE history with one arm.

This felt like the way to position Charlotte as the woman best-equipped to withstand the most gruesome manoeuvre in women's wrestling. Charlotte can put Ronda away with one arm. She can effectively unload her one major weapon, using her storyline superiority as a pro wrestler to take Ronda to her limit.

If that was and remains the plan, WWE has ruined it spectacularly by relegating SuperCharlotte to 50/50 Flair in a strange and very optimistic attempt to get Carmella over as SmackDown Women's Champion. This is typical of a corrosive, overarching mentality rooted in arrogance. WWE believes it can simply build Charlotte - anybody, really - back up. In this specific case, they're probably right; such is Ronda's major aura, the prospect of her facing one of few performers immune to inconsistent character portrayal is a fascinating one. The prospect of Ronda facing a good wrestler is a fascinating one.

With one eye cast over the progressive PR opportunity that is the "first-ever!" Women's 'Mania headline attraction, there are no two female performers better positioned to pull it off.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!