WWE Royal Rumble 2023 SPOILERS For Top Star

SPOILERS on major WWE plans for Royal Rumble 2023 involving a top, top star.

by Andy H Murray
WWE Extreme Rules 2022 Ronda Rousey
WWE.com

WWE's current plan for Ronda Rousey involves the SmackDown Women's Champion holding her title until at least WrestleMania 39, fending off a Raquel Rodriguez challenge at Royal Rumble 2023 en route to Hollywood.

This is according to WrestlingNews.co. The report states that Rodriguez will step up to face Rousey at the Rumble on 28 January, continuing the duo's ongoing storyline. Ronda wrestled Shotzi on WWE's most recent premium live event, Survivor Series 2022, though she has existing storyline beef with Rodriguez, who has been selling an arm injury following an attack by Ronda recently.

Rousey forced Rodriguez to tap out to an armbar in a tag team match on last week's SmackDown. Prior to this, Ronda and Shayna Baszler had attacked her backstage. Later, WWE claimed Raquel would be out for 4-6 weeks as a result of her kayfabe injury, having worn a brace at Survivor Series.

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WrestlingNews.co had heard nothing of WWE's plans for Rodriguez post-Rumble, though Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, like Vince McMahon for him, is understood to be a big fan.

Nonetheless, Rousey is scheduled to carry the SmackDown Women's Title into WrestleMania 39. Whether or not her long-rumoured bout with Becky Lynch is still on the cards for that show isn't clear.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.