Is Ronda Rousey getting enough credit?
The question above is obviously rhetorical
The booking decisions surrounding Ronda Rousey in her early WWE run have been utterly horrendous. Her first two female opponents were Stephanie McMahon and Nia Jax. Stephanie can’t wrestle and Jax is limited with a very low ceiling for match quality. If you told me before Rousey debuted that her first two opponents were Stephanie and Nia, I would respond that Vince McMahon should be arrested for character assassination.
Since Rousey’s awkward Royal Rumble debut, there has been constant skepticism. Rousey struggled with reverberating confidence in her promos speaking softly and without fervor.
There was also trepidation from WWE fans that Rousey would be pushed to the moon. WWE decided instead of pushing Ronda, they would just have her be the moon. Ronda’s first singles match in the WWE would be a Women’s Championship match. At Money in the Bank, Rousey was about to secure the championship until she got hit with a briefcase screwjob by Alexa Bliss.
Take all the roadblocks, potential pitfalls, and obstacles I’ve listed above, take in account that Ronda is an accomplished professional fighter, but not a trained professional wrestler, Ronda has succeeded despite the company incompetency that surrounds her.
I know what I’m about to say is armchair analysis, but I have a doctorate in sitting on armchairs and saying words: What is most prominent about Ronda’s in the WWE is that she genuinely enjoys performing and has a desire to get better. Consider the lineage of wrestlers that have trained for years, have had WWE careers, and never showed significant improvement.
Low hanging fruit here but it’s too obvious not to bring up, Roman Reigns has had 4+ years to improve on his promo delivery. The result has been 4 years of the same boring monotone delivery. He’s had even longer to become a better in-ring worker. His matches could make Triple H fall asleep.
Rousey lacked emphasis in her early promos but lately has been catching a groove. Rousey has some ways to go, but in an exchange with Nia Jax on the Raw prior to Money in the Bank, Ronda delivered her best intensity on the mic to date. The promo exchange had been pretty dry and weak up to that point, an issue that relates to the WWE’s poor script-writing.
Nia Jax, who issued the title challenge several weeks prior, came in the lamest way possible. At a corporate event, Jax flatly says she’s challenging Rousey. No buildup. No sparring of words or wits. The WWE tried to spin the moment as spontaneous when there was clearly nothing spontaneous about the challenge.
Rousey’s first match at Mania versus Stephanie and Triple H was built on the unknown and anxious anticipation. “Let’s see what Ronda can do in the squared circle,” was the sentiment going in. Ronda really shined when she started beating the piss out of Triple H. From the jump it was clear Ronda’s athleticism translated from real fighting to stunt fighting. The spots in the match were carefully planned, Ronda delivered and was the most exciting performer in the match. Her debut was a success despite the storyline being an absolute dumpster fire.
Ronda’s second match would prove to be more of a challenge from the standpoint that the expectations were higher. We know Ronda looks competent in the ring, but how much can she work? In particular, working with Jax, can Ronda effectively sell Nia’s big girl offense?
Ronda proved against Nia she could sell. Jax dished out punishment, Rousey looked beaten down in the early stages of the match. And then it happened. Ronda went to first play in the Hulk Hogan playbook and started hulking up. It’s the classic way to transition momentum in a wrestling match, and still one of the most effective. It’s an “oh shit” moment as a viewer. Oh shit, here comes Ronda, she’s about to beat this girl’s ass. Ronda proceeds to do such, and the crowd goes wild.
When I wrote about how to book Ronda, I never imagined she’d instantaneously come across as likable as Daniel Bryan. Rousey was a heel of sorts in the MMA world. Her overconfidence seen as cockiness and arrogance. Rousey’s WWE character has shown humility up until recent, but she’s already got massive babyface cheers going for her. She’s exciting to watch because we as fans know at any moment she could start beating everyone up Lesnar or Stone Cold style. Rousey channeled her inner Stone Cold last Monday night.
Down goes the champion. Down goes the General Manager. Down go the referees. Putting Alexa Bliss through a table. Why not? The most watched YouTube clip from WWE shows this last week? Check.
Rousey’s last two in-ring video segments on YouTube accrued over 6 million views, whereas Raw pulls in just over 3 million television viewers. This points to Rousey pulling in casual fans who don’t regularly watch the show.
The verdict is that Ronda Rousey is an undeniable star whether she’s actually fighting or stunt fighting. She’s also been adding action film acting to her repertoire. I predict it won’t be long until Marvel or DC seizes a superheroine role for Rousey.
Of all the qualities that have impressed me about Rousey’s WWE run thus far, one aspect has gone under the radar. Rousey shamelessly uses her social media for kayfabe (she comments on occurrences from the show on her Instagram). Occasionally, I’ll read the comments to laugh at angry commenters who want to let her know that wrestling is fake as if she didn’t know.
In the era of “kayfabe is dead”, I appreciate wrestlers who put effort into their social media presence to use kayfabe. Most wrestlers will put out the occasional kayfabe tweet but most times they’re as soulless and ineffective as a Landon Donovan endorsement for Mexico’s National Team. Wrestlers can use social media as a promotional tool and a way to continue their feuds outside the confines of the show, but the exchange still has to feel authentic and genuine. Rousey’s mostly all-in approach to kayfabe social media has to be applauded. This is another sign to me that she truly cares about the wrestling business.
There was fear that Rousey’s arrival in the WWE would overshadow the other women performers on the show. Her mainstream popularity far surpasses any wrestler on the show male or female. Rousey took women’s MMA fighting to a new level. Women’s fighting has gotten so much shine and the fighters have improved two-fold since Rousey’s ascension. Many women’s MMA fights are better than the men’s.
I need a few more Ronda Rousey matches to determine where she ranks as far as women’s performers go in the company, but she’s knocking on the top-5 door. This is why I argued that Sasha Banks should be Rousey’s first opponent. A 3- month feud with Sasha would’ve given Rousey the opportunity to find her comfort zone in verbal duels, how to deliver and take offense in the ring, and develop solid ring psychology. So far we’ve only seen Rousey’s potential ability in flashes. Rousey won’t improve like she should facing broomstick competitors. Queue up feuds with Sasha, Becky, Ember Moon, Charlotte, and the workers that have honed their craft and perfected it over the years. From a speed and dexterity standpoint, Ronda has all the tools. Now it’s putting together the technical ability to execute.
When it comes to the WWE, I root for the best talent to rise to the top and get the shine and props they deserve for performing at the highest level. That’s why it’s important to recognize Styles vs. Shinsuke as the frontrunner for feud of the year. That’s why it’s unforgivable that the WWE doesn’t recognize that they’re leaving money on the table by not allowing Kevin Owens to talk ticket buyers into their emptying arenas.
That’s why it’s important to recognize that Ronda Rousey is performing well beyond any conceivable expectations. Wrestling fans cannot take Rousey for granted. The Rock already laid the groundwork for where wrestling superstars can secure the real bag. I can’t imagine Rousey being a prisoner of the WWE for long if Hollywood starts rolling out the red carpet. Appreciate the moment, because Ronda is owning it right now.
