12 Ups And 16 Downs For WWE In 2018

1. Rousey Exceeds Expectations

So with all that said about Becky Lynch, how did Ronda Rousey edge her for the top spot?

While Lynch had a red hot second half of 2018. Rousey was a sensation throughout the entire year. Debuting at Royal Rumble, Ronda immediately drew mainstream attention, as the former UFC women’s champ had signed with WWE. That and her subsequent debut match at WrestleMania would have been enough to merit a huge “up” for the year, but what followed was something no one could have predicted.

Rather than simply disappear to train and really hone her craft, the rookie proceeded to win the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam and took on a full schedule, regularly wrestling and doing ridiculously well month after month. “Rousey Exceeds Expectations” was a regular “up” in this column after PPVs.

No one could have expected Rousey to do as well as she did in 2018. She blew up any notions people had of how she’d fare, not only being a credible wrestler as a rookie, but carrying the women’s division on WWE’s flagship show to the point that it often is a high point each week.

Rousey combined with Lynch have been an adrenaline shot for women’s wrestling in 2018. The two of them – and their burgeoning feud – is good for the industry. Ronda gets a very slight edge here due to her rookie status, but hats off to both of them as we leave 2018 behind.