In a shocking turn of events at the recently-concluded Money in the Bank event in London, Ronda Rousey, one-half of the now-former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, was betrayed by her partner and ally, Shayna Baszler. The abrupt twist led to the tandem dropping their titles to Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan.
- Ronda Rousey is set to depart from WWE, possibly by SummerSlam.
- Her departure is linked to a feud with Shayna Baszler.
- Rousey’s second stint in WWE has not been as successful as her first.
- She is determined to elevate Baszler before her departure.
This surprise move is apparently a precursor to Rousey’s departure from the wrestling world and the rise of Baszler.
As reported by Dave Meltzer from Wrestling Observer Radio, Rousey has a “hard out” clause in her contract, which signifies a predetermined departure date from WWE – one that could happen as early as SummerSlam.
Ronda Rousey, often referred to as “The Baddest Woman on the Planet,” has played a huge part in WWE’s women’s division for several years. After making her debut in 2018, Rousey carved out a niche for herself, achieving considerable success and winning the Royal Rumble in 2022. However, her second stint in WWE has not gone as well. Despite her name recognition and reputation, Rousey’s performance both in-ring and on the mic has failed to resonate with the audience as profoundly as it did during her initial run. Meanwhile, Baszler has been a constant presence on the main roster for over three years but has yet to be utilized to her full potential.
Despite Baszler’s formidable in-ring abilities, a series of poorly executed storylines has left her criminally underutilized and underappreciated. However, the recent events at MITB hint at a long-awaited push for Baszler, marking a significant turning point in her wrestling career.
In the wake of the shocking incident at Money in the Bank, it’s clear the storyline was a premeditated move to set up a feud between Rousey and Baszler, the latter being credited with getting Rousey into pro wrestling, which coincides with Rousey’s departure to presumably resume her UFC career.
While the exact date is unknown, Meltzer suggests Rhodes’ resignation could happen as early as SummerSlam on August 5 or sometime shortly after but certainly long before WrestleMania XL in April of the following year.
The timing of Rousey’s departure has accelerated the execution of the Rousey vs. Baszler feud, which was intended to be a drawn-out storyline leading up to a big WrestleMania showdown. However, an injury to Rousey earlier in the year delayed the story’s progression, adding to the urgency to push the narrative. The abrupt ending to Rousey and Baszler’s reign as champions and the initiation of their feud has forced WWE to adapt quickly to the changing circumstances.
As Rousey prepares to exit the WWE landscape, she seems determined to elevate her friend and ally, Baszler. Rousey has reportedly expressed her desire to set up a feud with Baszler and, if the recent events are any indication, Rousey appears to be succeeding in her mission. The feud is a massive opportunity for Baszler to reestablish herself as another top talent in the women’s division. But for this storyline to succeed and resonate with fans, Baszler needs to return to her roots as a dominant, single-minded wrestler and escape the shadow of poorly executed narratives.
After six successful title defenses and a significant contribution to the promotion of female fighters, Rousey lost her belt to Holly Holm and later departed from the UFC following a 48-second TKO defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. With Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement and the vacant women’s bantamweight title up for grabs, Rousey’s potential return could see her fill Nunes’ place.
Whether or not fans will embrace the changes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, the world of women’s wrestling is in for a wild ride.
