Ronda Rousey Considering Match At Wrestlemania 31
Ronda Rousey, the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, is considering the potential of stepping into the squared circle for a wrestling match, according to a report from TMZ.
The rumors started to flood the internet after Ronda Rousey posted a video, on her official Instagram, partaking in a professional bout, along with roommate/UFC fighter, Shayna Baszler. In the video, Ronda calls herself “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, a name respectfully taken from Roddy Piper. She takes a couple of shoulder rams into the gut while in the corner of the ring by Shayna, dodges a third shoulder ram attempt, and punishes Shayna’s blunder with an arm bar.
The video was just a teaser, but Ronda confirming her interest to participate in a match at Wrestlemania is more than enough to have rabid WWE/MMA fans anticipate with hope. Unfortunately, Ronda in a match can’t happen at Wrestlemania XXX because of her fights and movies. However, Ronda stated Wrestlemania XXXI, in San Francisco, would be possible. WWE would need to get the ball rolling by hiring Ronda’s crew, which consists of Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke.
Some people, however, are unsure about Ronda Rousey in the WWE. However, the WWE had numerous athletes, from all sports, become great wrestlers. John Bradshaw Layfield, Ron “Farooq” Simmons, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson were football players before their wrestling careers. Kurt Angle and Mark Henry are Olympians. Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Tank Abbott, and even Jose Alberto Rodriguez (Alberto Del Rio) were in MMA first before they squared off in the squared circle.
The one common about all of the above is they are part of the men’s division in WWE. What about the women’s division? Unfortunately for WWE, the divas championship hasn’t been relevant in a very long time. For the past two to four years, many wrestling fans considered women’s wrestling in WWE to be more of a joke than something to be taken seriously. Back in the 90s, the women were well-trained wrestlers and/or athletic fitness models. Not so much now. Ronda Rousey joining the WWE would add a dynamic and popularity to the women’s division not seen in a long time.
First, there is Ronda Rousey’s stardom. No offense to Amy “Lita” Dumas and Trish Stratus, but they didn’t have the popularity in their primes that Ronda Rousey has now. Whoever she faces at Wrestlemania, that bout automatically will become one of the biggest matches in WWE women’s wrestling history.
In conclusion, both Ronda and the WWE win if this happens. However, the fans will be the ones to benefit the most. It is sad that the best womens wrestling match at Wrestlemania happened eight years ago (Trish Stratus versus Mickie James). Ronda versus whoever WWE has her wrestle against (as long as they can wrestle), can surely be remembered too.
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