5 Ups & 7 Downs From WWE Raw (Jan 31)

2. Rousey Sulks, Evades Burning Question

So after lighting the wrestling world on fire Saturday night, Ronda Rousey returned to Raw for the first time in nearly three years Monday night, and the reaction was… underwhelming.

The crowd definitely seemed subdued, and it certainly didn’t help that Rousey delivered a stilted promo about who she wanted to face at WrestleMania 38, saying that if she picked “Rebecca,” she’d be giving her the attention she craves but doesn’t deserve to save her “stagnating title reign.” There was no mention of being happy to be back, no acknowledgement she had been gone at all. It was just a very emotionless promo.

Thankfully, Becky Lynch was quickly out to call “Ronnie” a “little weirdo” again and note that she was the only person to have beaten Rousey in WWE. Still, Ronda refused to divulge who she was choosing, judo tossing Lynch and telling her that she’d have her answer on Friday.

Waiting until SmackDown after she’s been face-to-face with both women’s champions is fine, but Rousey’s return really should have been a moment, and it felt like another roster member, not the “Baddest Woman on the Planet.”