8 Ups & 11 Downs For WWE In 2018 (So Far)
1. Rookie Of The Decade
No debuting wrestler has ever looked as impressive as Ronda Rousey did at WrestleMania 34.
'Rowdy,' Kurt Angle, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H stole the show on a night that should've belonged to AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura. Yes, it was meticulously rehearsed and laid out, and yes, Rousey was in there with two of the all-time greats, but these caveats detract nothing from her performance. Displaying timing, presence, and bumping years beyond her inexperience, Ronda was sublime, and utterly deserving of every drop of praise that came her way.
The UFC Hall Of Famer proved it was no fluke at Money In The Bank, somehow dragging the ponderous Nia Jax to the greatest match of her WWE career. Then, Rousey followed with one of the year's best segments, destroying Alexa Bliss and Kurt Angle in a Steve Austin-esque angle that prompted her ongoing 30-day suspension.
Such absences will be vital in preserving Ronda's star power, but she's already the women's division's centrepiece. Rousey has readymade storylines with Bliss, Jax, and Natalya to walk into when she returns. When these expire, there'll be fresh bouts with Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Ember Moon. The possibilities are as exciting as they are numerous, and we can't wait to see how it all pans out.