Update On WrestleMania Plans Changing For Ronda Rousey, Rhea Ripley & More

WrestleMania 39 will pan out differently for what Ronda Rousey, John Cena, and more...

by Andy H Murray
Ronda Rousey
WWE.com

Fightful Select and WrestlingNews.co have published their latest collaborative report on plans changing for several top WWE stars, including Ronda Rousey, John Cena, and Rhea Ripley.

Cena, it is stated, was originally set to face Logan Paul at WrestleMania 39. This was true as of November, though WWE pivoted to Cena vs. Austin Theory in December.

Advertisement

The promotion is yet to truly start building to that clash, though Cena is already announced for an appearance on next week's episode of Raw - and WWE quietly filmed a vignette featuring the 16-time World Champion and Theory in December.

With Cena no longer on his horizon, Paul appears to be locked into a WrestleMania program with Seth Rollins.

Advertisement

Regarding Rhea Ripley and Ronda Rousey, Fightful/WrestlingNews.co report that WWE set its plans for Ripley to win the 2023 Royal Rumble in November. In victory, she would challenge for the SmackDown Women's Title, which Ronda was originally supposed to hold until April. Instead, Rousey took time away from television after dropping the strap to the returning Charlotte Flair in December, with Rhea now booked to face Flair instead.

WrestleMania 39 takes place in Inglewood, California on 1 and 2 April.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.