Major Update On Ronda Rousey's Status For WWE WrestleMania 39

What does WWE have in mind for the Rowdy One at the Showcase of the Immortals?

Mar 7, 2023 March 7th, 2023

With Ronda Rousey seen sporting a sling on her left arm on last week's SmackDown, now comes an update on the Rowdy One's status for WrestleMania 39.

It was reported over the weekend that Rousey has aggravated an old arm injury, hence the genuine reason for her wearing a sling last Friday.

It's long been speculated that Ronda and Shayna Baszler will be challenging for the Women's Tag Team Titles at this year's 'Mania, though some have questioned whether that is still the plan due to how current Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch and Lita are now confirmed to be teaming with Trish Stratus to take on Damage CTRL at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (via WrestlingNews.co), Dave Meltzer noted how, while Rousey will likely not be 100% healthy by the time of WrestleMania 39, the plan is still for her and Baszler to not only challenge for the Tag Team Titles, but to win those belts at the company's biggest show of the year.

Meltzer added how Lynch, Lita & Stratus vs. Damage CTRL is expected to happen on Night 1 of 'Mania, with the Tag Team Titles then being defended against Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler on Night 2. At this stage, it's unclear whether it'll be Becky and Lita defending the gold on Night 2, or whether IYO SKY and Dakota Kai may win those belts back before WrestleMania gets here.

Emanating from Inglewood, California's SoFi Stadium, WrestleMania 39 will take place over the weekend of 1 and 2 April.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.

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