Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey beat Shotzi at WWE Survivor Series WarGames on Saturday to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship.

The champion dominated for most of the match, culminating with a judo throw off the top rope. She finished the job with a Piper's Pit, followed by the armbar to get Shotzi to tapout.

In the wake of Rousey beating Liv Morgan in an Extreme Rules match at the same-titled pay-per-view last month to become a two-time SmackDown women's titleholder, The Baddest Woman on the Planet firmly established herself as a heel.

Rousey defeated Emma in an open challenge to retain the title and aligned herself with fellow Four Horsewomen member Shayna Baszler to strengthen her status as champion.

While Rousey and Baszler are longtime friends dating back to their time together in UFC, WWE had largely stayed away from presenting them as on-screen allies until the build toward Survivor Series.

Rousey needed an opponent for the PPV, which led to a six-pack challenge being booked for the Nov. 11 episode of SmackDown, featuring Shotzi, Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Sonya Deville, Lacey Evans and Xia Li.

Shotzi survived a chaotic affair to become No. 1 contender, but she soon learned she may be getting more than she bargained for.

Following her victory, she was confronted backstage by Baszler, who expressed her belief that Rousey would not only win at Survivor Series but also put the challenger on the shelf with an injury.

Shotzi disagreed and insisted she could win before Baszler put her in the Kirifuda Clutch thanks to a distraction from The Baddest Woman on the Planet.

Prior to Survivor Series WarGames, Rousey and Shotzi faced each other twice before in televised singles matches, and the former won both of them in quick fashion.

Shotzi has undergone a character and attitude transformation since then, but it still wasn't enough for her to knock off the champ.

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Ronda Rousey has been such a curious case in 2022. The former UFC women's bantamweight champion made her surprise return to pro wrestling in January and won the women’s Royal Rumble match.

One would assume that her long-awaited reemergence would have made a more significant impact, but she has had some noticeable struggles.

Fan interest in The Baddest Woman on the Planet has diminished following her hiatus. However, she’s still one of the most recognizable stars on the roster. She still has enough star power to garner mainstream attention, and Fox sees her as an asset on SmackDown.

Unfortunately, WWE hasn’t been able to utilize her as well as it did during her rookie year.

A few questionable creative decisions hampered her buzz, forcing a bit of course correction over the summer. Now, the company will have to figure out how to make better use of her in 2023.

Although she has had some setbacks, that won’t be too difficult of a task. The new regime already seems to have a better handle on her character.

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An Ideal WrestleMania Opponent

If everything goes as planned, it seems Rousey already has an opponent lined up for WrestleMania 39.

In February, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE wants "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson vs. Roman Reigns and Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch as its two big showcase matches."

Although Triple H has taken over as head of creative since then, one would have to assume the marquee match is still on the table. Lynch was present at the launch party for The Show of Shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and she has expressed interest in the matchup several times.

The Man even threw a jab at her famous rival during a recent appearance on the Out of Character podcast when asked about it. "Maybe if she starts training a little bit more," she said. "Maybe if she gets a little better."

The former Raw women’s champion is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury, but WWE hopes she will be back by the end of the year. The Man remains one of its top stars and a proven commodity at The Showcase of Immortals.

So, her eventual clash with Rousey is the biggest women’s match available for the company’s return to Hollywood. Even more, their heated rivalry would provide an excellent story next year.

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Unfinished Business with Becky Lynch

Rousey vs. Lynch was the hottest story heading into WrestleMania 35. The Man’s iconic promo from the episode of Raw after her Royal Rumble win will go down as a career highlight.

It was a picture-perfect payoff to her star-making moment during the build to Survivor Series 2018 and the champion vs. champion match that never happened. Then, WWE overcomplicated the storyline and added Charlotte Flair, robbing fans of a highly anticipated one-on-one match.

At The Show of Shows, The Man handed The Baddest Woman on the Planet her first loss in the Winner Takes All Triple Threat match. However, Rousey injured her hand during the main event, and the finish left the door open for an inevitable rematch.

So much so that most viewers expected the 35-year-old to challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship in April. Instead, she teased an attempt on Jan. 31 before setting her sights on Flair.

This may have disappointed some fans, but that was right the call because the electricity from their first confrontation wasn't there anymore. In fact, keeping them apart for most of 2022 may have been a stroke of genius.

Lynch had abandoned The Man persona and was still in the middle of an ongoing feud with Bianca Belair. The development of their year-long story arc and their match from Night 1 of WrestleMania 38 was much better than a rematch with Rousey could have hoped to be right now.

It makes much more sense to allow both competitors to grow closer to the characters they were three years ago first. The fans are dying to cheer for The Man again and the natural progression from Big Time Becks will make her return more rewarding.

More importantly, the SmackDown women’s division desperately needs another star like The Man. She’s more synonymous with the blue brand because that’s where the persona originated. It’s also where she won her first singles title as The Irish Lass Kicker, so it feels right for her to go back to her roots.

Meanwhile, the awaiting champion is much better as an antagonist as opposed to an uninspiring babyface. Her recent feud with Liv Morgan was a much-needed change of direction.

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The Verdict

We’re buying Rousey as the SmackDown women’s champion on the road to WrestleMania. WWE doesn’t really sell the event on matchups anymore, but she’s the high-profile star it needs to appear on mainstream outlets for a major show in Hollywood.

Her match with Lynch will likely headline a night at Sofi Stadium. Admittedly, Los Angeles provides a better stage for their showdown than Dallas. Also, swapping character dynamics and generating buzz for most of 2022 was a smart way to build their rematch.

Reigniting their feud is also the shot in the arm the SmackDown women’s division needs right now. The brand has lost many of its stars such as Sasha Banks, Naomi, and Flair, so this will be the perfect way to revitalize it next year.

It's easy to forget that Ronda Rousey made her WWE return this year as a surprise entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match.

That's not to say she didn't make an impact as she went on to challenge Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38. However, many other high-profile returns and her erratic second year with the company have overshadowed her reintroduction to pro wrestling.

Still, the former UFC women's bantamweight champion has been a fixture on SmackDown. The novelty of her foray into the squared circle may have worn off for some fans, but she's an asset who can draw casual viewers and mainstream outlets.

Even so, WWE has a bit of a dilemma, and its newest celebrity acquisition illuminates it.

When you have someone like Logan Paul, who is well-known outside of the pro wrestling bubble, it’s hard not to justify adding him to marquee matchups. Case in point being the popular YouTuber-turned-boxer will face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel on Nov. 5.

Rousey gave her opinion of his venture into wrestling during a recent edition of Tuesdays Are For Gods of War. One could read it as just an ill-advised take, but it also comes off as an extension of her own expectations for herself.

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Should Logan Paul Beat Roman Reigns?

During her gaming stream, The Baddest Woman on the Planet explained what she hopes his time with the company looks like. She even went on to fantasy-book Paul’s showdown with Reigns (h/t Phil Hall of WrestlingInc.com):

"I'm going to say this in the best way possible. What they need to do with Logan Paul is make sure he loves this and has an absolutely amazing time and wants to make this his home. Showing up and getting his ass kicked by Bray Wyatt might be what a lot of people want to see, but I don't think it makes sense.

"Honestly, you know what? I would have Logan Paul—if I was booking it—I would have him beating Roman Reigns. I would, because for whatever plethora of reasons, he is one biggest draws right now. You want to be able to put him over, you want to be able to legitimize him."

This is the drawback of signing celebrities to a full-time contract because, on the surface, Rousey is right.

It would be a shrewd business move to ensure Paul feels welcomed. If WWE wants to effectively capitalize on his mainstream appeal, it would also behoove the company to make him a focal point of its programming.

However, it wouldn’t be wise to put its main title on the 27-year-old this soon. He may look impressive, but he has only competed in two matches.

More to the point, thrusting an outsider into a top position too fast has historically caused fans to turn on a wrestling promotion. Look how well things turned out for David Arquette as WCW world heavyweight champion.

WWE doesn’t want to upset its fanbase, at least not in that way. It would also set a terrible precedent and potentially frustrate top stars like Seth Rollins or Bobby Lashley. These Superstars are having a tremendous year. It would probably sting to see someone who only appears for the big pay-per-views step in and become the biggest priority.

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Struggles of Getting Reacclimated

Rousey’s second stint with WWE hasn’t been as consistent as her celebrated rookie year.

She set a high bar for herself in 2018, and the UFC Hall of Famer hasn’t performed as well this year. There also seemed to be a disconnect over her creative direction until her recent feud with Liv Morgan.

The SmackDown women's champion remains a priority to the brand and Fox, but it was a questionable decision to make her a protagonist again. Yes, most returning Superstars come back as a babyface because we expect them to receive a positive reaction.

Nevertheless, the former MMA fighter’s buzz never reached the heights one would expect. Rousey also appeared uncomfortable in the role given how her last run ended. She told The DC Check-In (h/t Nick Tylwalk of Wrestling Junkie) she always prefers to be a heel, and it’s not hard to understand why. It just seems like a much more natural fit for her.

Her take on Paul vs. Reigns isn’t the first time her ideas have turned into headlines. For example, she also recently stated that she doesn’t want to say women’s title anymore. She also called for more non-title storylines featuring women, which is a valid criticism.

Regardless, her thoughts on Paul could be read as a glimpse into how she wanted her time with WWE to go. The company didn’t rush to make her champion, and it worked effectively.

Yes, you could argue her presence eventually cast a large shadow over the rest of the women’s division. To that end, her reign as Raw women’s champion potentially hindered the growth of new stars.

Still, she did help legitimize the brand’s title and provided a perfect foil for Becky Lynch during her meteoric rise as The Man.

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The Bottom Line

Building up celebrities as the top commodity in a wrestling company isn’t a sustainable business model. It’s a great way to boost ratings and generate renewed interest in pay-per-views, but it’s not a long-term solution.

Stars like Paul, Rousey and Bad Bunny have helped to further separate WWE from the pack, but their inclusion creates a tough juggling act. It’s important to utilize them and attempt to reach new viewers. Conversely, it’s a bad idea to overuse them and alienate your core audience.

It can be an ingenious way to highlight top stars like The Tribal Chief, but it also runs the risk of creating a ceiling for someone on the cusp of a hot streak. So, a measured approach is still the best way to go.

Rousey's second stint with WWE has been a mixed bag. Even though she seems to be back on the right track, it’s still hard for some fans to fully invest in her. That's possibly because it seems the company will cater to her until she moves on to something else.

It was a brave decision to take time off to become a parent after she headlined WrestleMania 35, but she worked a lighter schedule than full-time talent in her first year.

This created the perception that she received preferential treatment. Her time away also caused some to doubt her devotion to wrestling, and she never really alleviated those concerns.

She was right about one thing: The company needs to become Paul’s home. When hardcore fans realize he is here to stay, they will accept him. There is still some hesitancy around Rousey for the same reason.

The former UFC star clearly loves wrestling, but it’s still unclear if she is willing to commit to it as someone like Kurt Angle did. He earned the viewership’s trust because he stuck around.

There’s no short cut to that route. WWE can’t just give her or Paul that type of credibility through title wins. They have to earn that goodwill.

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Road Dogg Reportedly Ran Monday's Raw

Someone from within Triple H's inner circle reportedly led the way backstage during Monday night's episode of Raw.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported that Triple H was not present for Raw on Monday because he tested positive for COVID-19.

Since Vince McMahon retired in July, Triple H has been the head of creative and vice president of talent relations, and he has been at the Gorilla position for both Raw and SmackDown.

Per Johnson, Road Dogg was the "point person" for Raw with Triple H unable to be there in person. WWE parted ways with Road Dogg earlier this year, but when Triple H took over, he brought Road Dogg back in August as the senior vice president of live events.

Road Dogg previously worked closely with Triple H in NXT, and they also teamed up for years in WWE as performers when they were members of D-Generation X.

In addition to Road Dogg, Johnson reported that writers Ed Koskey and Michael Hayes helped lead the creative team at Raw.

Bruce Prichard normally would have been second in command during McMahon's tenure, but he was not present at Raw due to a previously planned vacation, per Johnson.

Even though Triple H was not at Raw, the show seemed to run smoothly, as it started with a brawl between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley and ended with an entertaining United States Championship match between Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle.

It isn't yet known if Triple H will be cleared to attend Friday's SmackDown, but if he isn't, it seems likely Road Dogg will be at the helm once again.

Omos and MVP Reportedly Moved to SmackDown

The combination of Omos and MVP is reportedly slated to primarily be part of a different brand moving forward.

According to Johnson, the plan is for Omos and MVP to appear regularly on SmackDown despite previously being part of the Raw roster.

Omos and MVP appeared in the crowd during a Braun Strowman squash match on last week's SmackDown, seemingly setting the stage for an eventual match between the two behemoths.

On Monday's Raw, MVP cut a promo alongside Omos backstage, but that was likely a pre-taped segment that didn't actually require them to be present at Raw.

Per Johnson, Strowman vs. Omos is "penciled in" for Crown Jewel, which takes place on Nov. 5 in Saudi Arabia.

Omos and Strowman are two of the tallest and most physically impressive Superstars in WWE, so it makes sense to put them in a feud against each other.

Since ending his feud with Bobby Lashley, Omos has primarily wrestled in squash matches. The same is true for Strowman, who recently returned to the company after getting released last year.

Omos vs. Strowman will be far from a technical masterpiece, but it should be a fun attraction that will capture the attention of fans.

If booked carefully, perhaps it could even lead to Omos and Strowman gaining respect for each other and agreeing to team up with MVP serving as their mouthpiece.

Rousey Says Thumbtacks are Banned from WWE Programming

SmackDown women's champion Ronda Rousey revealed during her "Baddest Stream on the Planet" YouTube stream last week that her idea for the finish to her Extreme Rules match against Liv Morgan was shot down due to an internal WWE rule.

While speaking on the stream (h/t WrestlingInc's Colby Applegate), Rousey noted that she wanted to do a spot involving thumbtacks:

"Yeah, actually. I pitched the finish to be thumbtacks. [Morgan] would put down thumbtacks and powerbomb me onto the thumbtacks. Then as a repeat of our finish before, I would go for the armbar in the thumbtacks, but they would start counting the pin. Then I'd have to push up on my one shoulder into the thumbtacks to keep the armbar on. Then Liv would be biting her hand trying not to tap, and then pass out face down into the thumbtacks with her hand there to protect her face."

Rousey added that when the idea was turned down, she was told that it was for legal reasons since WWE Superstars are not permitted to purposely cut their skin so as to remain in compliance with the PG rating.

WWE took a much safer route with the finish to the match, as Rousey made Morgan pass out in a submission to become the new SmackDown women's champion.

Although the thumbtack spot would have created more buzz, Rousey was made to look strong in the victory, as was Morgan, since she had a smile on her face as she passed out.

Rousey's negativity toward the crowd after beating Morgan suggests she will be firmly portrayed as a heel moving forward, which has typically been her best role during her time in WWE.

The biggest challenge for WWE moving forward as it relates to Rousey will be finding her credible opponents and building storylines that the fans can get invested in.

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Ronda Rousey thinks the next step in the women's revolution in professional wrestling is to get the "women" part out.

“I don’t want to say ‘women’ in title anymore," Rousey said in her latest vlog. "And I think they are kind of resistant to taking it out. So then I was like, ‘Can I just not have to say it?’ So then that’s kind of where it’s at.”

Rousey regained the Smackdown Women's Championship from Liv Morgan at Extreme Rules, marking her second reign with the title.

It's unclear if Rousey's opinion is shared by a majority of the locker room.

There is no men's SmackDown or men's Raw champion, so there is no need to say women for differentiation purposes. WWE could, in theory, eliminate gender without issue. The SmackDown and Raw tag team champions are not called the SmackDown and Raw men's tag team champions despite there being women's tag team titles.

By far the easiest potential solution would be to completely revamp the championship structure across the board. WWE could rename both women's titles and the men's tag championships without much issue. An alternate plan could see the company merge its titles to have only one women's champion, one men's champion and one tag team champion, with the champions being able to appear on every brand.

That said, it doesn't appear WWE makes any seismic changes any time soon.

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Ronda Rousey defeated Liv Morgan in an Extreme Rules match at the same-titled pay-per-view on Saturday night to win the SmackDown Women's Championship and become a three-time champ overall in WWE.

#AndNew #SmackDown Women's Champion, @RondaRousey!#ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/wfN6MHzZFz

— WWE (@WWE) October 9, 2022

Morgan nearly pulled off the win after delivering a senton bomb on Rousey through a table, but she could only get a two-count.

.@YaOnlyLivvOnce puts The Baddest Woman on the Planet through a table!#ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/CFPk00SQU5

— WWE (@WWE) October 9, 2022

Rousey eventually got the upper hand and won after putting in a chokehold on the titleholder. The referee called for the bell after Morgan passed out.

The rivalry between the two began at Money in the Bank when Morgan won the women's ladder match and then cashed in on the former UFC star later in the night at the completion of her grueling title match against Natalya.

Morgan successfully claimed her first gold of any kind in WWE, but there was some concern that her reign would be short lived since Rousey was granted a rematch at SummerSlam.

Even so, the holder managed to retain, although it came in controversial circumstances, as she appeared to tap out to an armbar. But the referee didn't see it and instead counted Rousey's shoulders to the mat.

The Baddest Woman on the Planet was furious over the ending, which led to her attacking both Morgan and the official afterward.

With Rousey getting suspended for her actions, Morgan transitioned into a feud with Shayna Baszler and defeated her at Clash at the Castle on September 3.

Around that time, Rousey was reinstated and placed in an elimination Fatal 5-Way match to determine Morgan's opponent at Extreme Rules.

Not surprisingly, she ran through the field, beating Sonya Deville, Lacey Evans, Xia Li and Natalya to establish herself as No. 1 contender once more.

Entering Extreme Rules, there was perhaps an even greater fear that Morgan's title run was in jeopardy since Rousey had become more dangerous and aggressive after the loss at SummerSlam.

Morgan became the first woman in WWE history to beat Rousey twice, but the third time was not a charm, as the former UFC champion took her down and ascended to the top of the women's division again.

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