Wrestling’s 10 Biggest Missed Opportunities Of 2023
3. Refusing To Book Ronda Rousey Vs. Becky Lynch
There was a time there - really not that long ago - when 'The Baddest Woman on the Planet' and 'The Man' going at it in-between the ropes was easily the biggest match WWE could book.
Fast forward a few years on from a spluttering end to WrestleMania 35, however, and Ronda Rousey is no longer a part of the WWE machine, with that blockbuster one-on-one encounter never once landing on a single sports entertainment event.
The fact both eventual moms rarely shared the same space or show in the time that followed Becky Lynch's double-title win obviously made booking this one a tad difficult. But once Ronnie returned in 2022, it seemed like the pair of long-time rivals were destined to throw down at least once before the former UFC Bantamweight Champion decided to step away from the company.
It did honestly look like WWE were set to finally pull the trigger on this massive showdown at this year's 'Mania 39 for a while. But as 'The Show of Shows' crept closer, it became increasingly clear WWE had other ideas.
And so the chance passed, both women ending up in multi-women matches that night instead. Rousey would do the honours for pal Shayna Baszler a few months later at SummerSlam on her way out, and fans were simply left to wonder what could have been.