The One Missing Thing Ronda Rousey Needs In WWE
Though ambiguous by design, Rousey's WWE debut planted the roots for several major storylines. In going face-to-face with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, shaking hands with Stephanie McMahon, and getting snubbed by Asuka, Ronda gave herself a number of platforms to build on. Still, the tone was off-putting, and not in a way that built intrigue.
The former MMA star was all smiles as she greeted her new colleagues at ringside, even when 'The Empress of Tomorrow' slapped her hand away. Gone was the furnace of anger and venom that once dominated the UFC Octagon, replaced with a beaming newcomer who couldn't shake her Cheshire Cat grin, giving the impression that she was just happy to be there. Is this really how WWE want to present someone they're about to push as the baddest woman on the planet?
These character inconsistencies must be overcome. The success of performers like Matt Riddle and Shayna Baszler shows the in-ring transition from MMA to wrestling can be relatively quick, but nailing the bell-to-bell fundamentals isn't enough in this company.
In the UFC, Rousey was an absolute terror. She marched to the Octagon and through weigh-ins looking like she wanted to eat her opponents alive, particularly when she faced the likes of Bethe Correira, who got extremely personal in the build-up to their fight. In short, Ronda conveyed menace: a quality solely lacking in her WWE debut, but one that must permeate everything she does going forward.
This is where microphone work comes into play. Rousey was never the most compelling talker in MMA, and it's telling that she didn't speak during her WWE debut. Nothing will shatter Ronda's mystique like a series of stilted, uncharismatic promos, and her voiceless Rumble cameo suggests that her new employers have already identified this as a weakness.
Sure, they can probably teach the former UFC Champion to become a convincing talker, but who's to say she even needs to cut promos at all? If the blueprint for her success is Brock Lesnar - and it should be - then WWE should follow his example to a tee. 'The Beast Incarnate' is the only main roster member who isn't overexposed, and retains his Superstar aura. This is partly down to his part-time schedule, which ensures every appearance feels special, but also because on the rare occasions he does open his mouth, he only utters a couple of words at a time.
This is what WWE must do to make Rousey a success. She's got the fame, athleticism, and credibility to push the Women's Revolution forward, but she needs someone to do the heavy lifting on the microphone. The company are going to push her like a female Brock Lesnar. Therefore, the one missing thing Ronda Rousey needs in WWE is a manager.
His name, ladies and gentlemen, is Paul Heyman.
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