AMONG many headlines on a very busy week for the Sports Entertainment industry was the fact that Ronda Rousey had not only shown up at the Royal Rumble, but signed a WWE contract to be part of the company going forward.
Most of the world focused on the first chapter of this new story. I, though, could not help but study chapters two and three, and look ahead to midway through the book. Why don’t you read along with me?
Without doubt, the appearance at the Rumble was hugely eye-catching. Rumours had been swirling – rumours always swirl, never float, hover or spin…always with the swirling – for some time that Ronda was not only WWE-bound, but would show up in Philadelphia for the Rumble.
Some of the scuttlebutt was even that she would win the first ever women’s Rumble match.
She didn’t, but to all intents and purposes, her appearance was the main event; it was certainly the departing image on the screen as the PPV went off air.
A very sound opening chapter, most will agree.
Some may suggest, and it would be a fair argument, that her appearance overshadowed the women that worked hard to make history.
But her legit star power must surely be taken into account, and if the females of WWE are to continue to make history – by the way, terrific news that they will have their own elimination chamber match – then as many eyes on them, for whatever reason, has to be considered positive.
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Ronda did not appear on either Monday Night Raw or Smackdown Live this week, but her name was certainly a regularly talking topic.
Clips and stills were shown of Ronda attempting to shake hands with Asuka only to be rebuffed, and we saw Ms Rousey pointing a little awkwardly to the Wrestlemania sign, indicating that we can expect her in a feature match at the biggest show of all in just over nine weeks’ time.
The match she may have is a bit of a moot point at the moment. It could be a title match against Alexa Bliss, Charlotte, or another of the existing women on the roster.
Asuka could forgo her title shot to take on the Rowdy One, or perhaps Ronda’s destination is the oft-discussed Internet dream match of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon against Ronda and The Rock.
Either way, it would be fair to expect the debuting Rousey to be the crowd favourite, taking on and vanquishing her first opponent on her way to conquering the world.
But will it be as simple as that?
WWE fans, you may have noticed, do not always follow their prescribed role.
In their eyes, fans should rise as one to love and adore John Cena and Roman Reigns, as well as plucky up-and- comer Jason Jordan.
Meanwhile, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens, among others, should be despised. Yet, when the music hits, the reaction is often the exact opposite from the one desired.
Let’s think back to the earlier observation from some about Ronda taking the limelight. There has been a huge movement to appreciate the ladies of wrestling, and rightly so.
But WWE’s encouragement to their fans to join the WWE Women’s Revolution has given the Universe a reason to show loyalty towards their own. Is she seen as an outsider jumping the queue?
In chapters two and three – Raw and Smackdown – I sensed an ill-at- ease crowd whenever Rousey was mentioned.
Indeed, when Charlotte talked of Ronda, the crowd actually booed.
The WWE crowd love Charlotte and Asuka. They boo Alexa, but only because they are supposed to, Alexa is that good at her job.
The point is, they are all respected by the audience, whatever their heroic or villainous role.
If they go for a one-on- one match with Ronda and one of the above, I think Rousey is getting booed.
Imagine WWE’s top brass shifting in their seats when Roman Reigns and Ronda Rousey win the last two matches on Wrestlemania, and New Orleans boos them up the Bayou.
Teaming Ronda with Rock against Hunter and Steph may save her for one night, but I suspect the somewhat not-for-turning WWE audience is likely to turn on her eventually.
So why not play into it? Whatever you do at Mania, you wait until the night afterwards, a traditionally rambunctious night with unexpected twists. Cue this man.
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“Ladies and gentleman, my name is Paul Heyman, and I introduce to you my newest client..RRRRRonda RRRRRousey.”
Embrace it, I say. Let Paul E weave his magic on the stick, and practically beg the WWE audience to resent Ronda, who wrecks her way through the women’s roster.
Eventually, when Ronda is handed her first loss, by Charlotte, Asuka or whoever it may be, it will be momentous.
Also, can you imagine the scope for teaming Brock and Ronda together? Brock and Ronda as the Raw male and female champs against Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka as the Smackdown title holders, anyone?
Now that’s a chapter I would like to see.
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