The Royal Rumble is considered the kickoff of Wrestlemania season, and ahead of this weekend’s “premium live event” speculation has swirled as to what tactic the WWE might use to generate some buzz toward its biggest event of the year. With Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar as one of the rumored main events and a card the company has played several times in the past, that alone won’t necessarily spark more interest than it already does.
The speculation online is that former UFC and Raw Women’s champion, Ronda Rousey could be scheduled for a return as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble, but would “Rowdy” Ronda bring the publicity that management wants for Wrestlemania?
The superficial answer is, yes, she’s a former combat sports star that had main stream media exposure before her relatively short, but impactful MMA career abruptly ended. On the other hand, Ronda had a stint in the WWE over three years ago and it didn’t necessarily go as smoothly as the office would’ve wanted it to go on television. As we know, professional wrestling fans are some of the most loyal, but most jaded fans of any genre, and when the audience began to boo Ronda because of some resentment toward her walking into the featured spot ahead of those regularly on the roster, she handled it the completely wrong way. If Rousey returns, the well-produced WWE video packages will be able to camouflage it, but when the audience booed her, Ronda pouted about it on live television and the visual discontent on her face fueled the perceived narrative that she thought she was entitled to sports entertainment glory simply because of her name.
Perhaps, the biggest problem for not only Rousey back in the ring, but also for the WWE to try to promote her is, after she finished up with the company in 2019, she made statements in interviews that the WWE was fake and that the fans were ungrateful so would the audience really welcome her back at the Rumble? Granted, sports entertainment is scripted, but the risks and injuries are real so there’s no way to view what Ronda said other than sour grapes that she didn’t get the reaction she thought she deserved during her stint in WWE. As far as the sports entertainment being scripted, that’s how she claimed the Raw Women’s title, and we all know what happened to her when the sport wasn’t scripted in her last two UFC fights.
Aside from the fact that she didn’t do much to make any WWE fans with her comments, you have to wonder if there’s really a demand for Ronda to be back in the spotlight or more specifically in the WWE? Based on her major success in the UFC, movies, and WWE stint, she probably has financial security so would the PR garnered from a Ronda appearance in the Rumble be worth the money it would take it to sign her to a new contract? Keep in mind, despite being a tremendous athlete, Rousey is still a novice in pro wrestling and in many ways, her back in the title picture has a “been there, done that” atmosphere to it. “Rowdy” Ronda jumped to the front of the line to take the main event spot at WM a few years ago and received a mixed reaction at best. More importantly, booking her in the featured spot of the women’s title match doesn’t do anything to further solidify any of the other female talent on the roster. Remember Bianca Belair made herself a bigger star at the Rumble with the emotional post-match promo and then the win at Wrestlemania last year.
The argument could be made that there’s some unfinished business with Ronda and Becky Lynch based on the goofy finish of Wrestlemania in 2019, but the question there is, would there really be a demand for a rematch based on a botched finish from three years ago? I’m not trying to be sarcastic, but Rousey debuted for the WWE after her star power began to decline following two devastating defeats in the UFC that made her quit the sport. Sure, the novelty of “Rowdy” Ronda in the WWE had an intrigue, but the story already had its time on television. Rousey decided to start a family and has been out of the spotlight for extended period of time, is anyone clamoring to see her back on television? If not, management should really consider if a Ronda return would be worth it, particularly because her comments about ungrateful fans won’t do anything to help her crowd reaction.
My two cents on the matter would be no, mostly because based on her current status, Ronda Rousey is closer to former star than she is main stream draw. That being said, it’s almost too easy for the WWE not to book her in a featured spot for Wrestlemania because with the MMA star on the card, the writing team doesn’t have to script a compelling angle for the women’s title match. Bianca’s post-match interview at the Rumble set up for a narrative that was allowed the fans to rally behind her to win the title since she was presented at the classic baby face chasing the title. What’s the reasoning the fans should want to see Ronda challenge for the title again? Granted, a rematch with Becky Lynch or Charlotte is on the table, but that would initially be a heel vs. heel match, which doesn’t make much sense for Wrestlemania. Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ronda Rousey is in the women’s Royal Rumble match this weekend because it definitely goes along with management’s current philosophy, which is probably also why the company doesn’t have nearly as much star power as in the past. I’ve said it before and I will say it again since the story remains the same with structure of the product, with the guaranteed money from the hefty TV contracts and the Peacock deal, a level of complacency developed within the company. Why should management take the chance to make new stars when it’s much easier to book Reigns/Lesnar again and bring Ronda back to WWE? Keep in mind, the company makes the same amount of money for Royal Rumble on the Peacock app regardless of how many people watch it so why should the company change its direction?
What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised.
Until next week
-Jim LaMotta
E mail [email protected] | You can follow me on Twitter @jimlamotta
