The One Missing Thing Ronda Rousey Needs In WWE
What the former ECW promoter brings to Lesnar's act can't be understated. He is the foundation that Suplex City was built on, and without Heyman as his 'Advocate,' the Universal Champion wouldn't be anything close to the special attraction he is today.
Brock, a so-so-talker, would've had to get by on presence and spectacle alone if not for Paul E, who was vital not only in getting the young Lesnar over back in 2002, but maintaining his appeal all the way through to the present day, when he has become WWE's most bankable main eventer.
Their's is a perfect union. Heyman profits from Lesnar, and Lesnar profits from Heyman. Sure, Paul's promos have become somewhat repetitive in recent years, but he remains the most captivating talker in wrestling today, and his ability to get someone or something over is unparalleled. His words bring untold levels of gravitas to everything he touches, and after spending so long with one former UFC Champion, it's time he joined forces with another.
Granted, becoming a Paul Heyman Guy doesn't always guarantee success. Neither Curtis Axel nor Cesaro caught on, but this was largely down to the company, who quickly went back on planned pushes for both. But there should be no such problems with Ronda Rousey. She is unequivocally the biggest mainstream star in the company, and if the Wrestling Observer is to be believed, her signing will coincide with a huge push for women's wrestling as a whole, with 'Rowdy' at the heart of it.
Her spotlight is guaranteed, but Rousey's performances must justify it. Hiding her in-ring weaknesses shouldn't be a problem, as WWE can always fill her matches with smoke and mirrors, and Ronda's MMA credibility means her bouts should be short and succinct - at least to begin with. She's an elite mixed martial artist, and an Olympic-calibre judoka, so the match should be over the moment she locks a Mickie James or Alicia Fox in an armbar. No counters, no struggle: just dominance.
This model should help disguise any in-ring deficiencies until Rousey's able to work longer bouts convincingly, but character shortfalls are harder to hide. WWE can't afford to expose such flaws if Ronda's drawing power is to endure beyond the curiosity of her first few matches. Fortunately, they're able to call upon the best salesman in the business, and even if Brock Lesnar decides to stick with the company after WrestleMania 34, there's no reason Rousey shouldn't be paired with 'The Advocate.'
Much of this hinges on Ronda's ability to convey menace in a worked environment - something she failed to do at the Rumble - but Heyman would take the pressure off. All Rousey needs to do is stand in the background wearing the old "I'm going to kill you" face that once haunted the UFC, leaving Paul to spin one of his trademark yarns, before springing to life whenever someone needs to get their arm twisted. Simple, but effective.
Can Ronda succeed without a manager of Heyman's calibre? Perhaps, but why take the risk? WWE are likely paying Ronda a lot of money to be here, so there's no sense in not doing everything in their power to make her a success. That means pairing her with someone who knows the business inside out, and more importantly, has a proven track record when it comes to preserving marquee performers.
Pair them up, and watch them soar.