4 Most likely directions for Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania 34 

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Rousey made her presence known at the Royal Rumble

After months of speculation, the worst kept secret in professional wrestling, the signing of Ronda Rousey was finally confirmed this Sunday night when the former UFC star made her much anticipated debut following the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match.

The most surprising thing about Rousey's debut, however, was that she did not compete in the Rumble match itself, with many fans and experts predicting she would be leaving Philadelphia as the first ever female winner of a Royal Rumble match. The expectation was that she would win the bout and go on to compete for the belt at Wrestlemania but her debut post-match has now got many fans speculating as to what direction the company will head in with Rousey on the road to Wrestlemania.

It's a certainty that Rousey will be competing on the card. The media attention from her arrival in the company and no doubt, for her debut match, is too much of an opportunity for the WWE to miss and she will almost definitely compete in one of the biggest matches on the card.

Let's take a look at some of the rumors circulating around Rousey at the moment and four possible directions the WWE could take her in for Wrestlemania 34.


#1 A Tag Match Against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon

WWE Mae Young Classic
Will these three be all smiles with each other in New Orleans?

Within 24 hours of Rousey making her debut, the internet was immediately reporting rumors of this match-up taking place. Most sources were suggesting The Rock would be the man to partner with Rousey on the grandest stage of them all and from a business perspective, that definitely makes the most sense. Having The Rock and Rousey share a ring will no doubt draw mass attention to the company during a time of the year where they get extra attention already but can the company convince The Great One to lace up his boots one more time?

There is a possibility, but if not, there are still plenty of options for Rousey. Following last year's infamous Survivor Series ending, there are several superstars who still have a legitimate reason to go after Triple H at Wrestlemania, not least of which is Braun Strowman. Strowman and Rousey would make a great team and The Monster among Men has shown in recent weeks that he excels as a character as part of an odd couple, mixed gender tag team. The match would also give Braun plenty of exposure, and consider he has no clear feud heading into Mania season, this could be the best option for him.

The other option, of course, is Kurt Angle. Like Braun, Angle has a legitimate reason to want to challenge Triple H at Mania, and he would help drag in some casual fans looking for a slice of nostalgia on the night.

#2 A Match Against Charlotte for The Smackdown Women's Title

Is Ronda coming to take Charlotte's Crown?
Is Ronda coming to take Charlotte's Crown?

Rewind the clock a week and this was the match most of us were anticipating for Rousey at Wrestlemania. Many fans expected the former UFC star to make her debut in the Royal Rumble and go on to win the match itself. This didn't happen, and since then, several sites have reported that Asuka will jump ship to Smackdown and challenge Charlotte for the women's title, hence why she is yet to announce who she will be challenging. While this does currently seem like the likely scenario, things can change very quickly in the WWE, and a match between Charlotte and Rousey would definitely be a major attraction on April 8th.

Charlotte is one of the most talented female wrestlers in the world today, and her sheer physical presence alone makes her feel like more than a match for Rousey. The two women both ooze charisma and there's no doubt that they could build plenty of hype for the encounter.

From a fan's perspective, Asuka Vs Charlotte seems a more attractive proposition at the moment, with both women vying to prove who he is the best in the WWE right now, it is also a fresh match-up, and Charlotte is the most viable threat to Asuka's streak right now. Still, we can't rule this match-up out.

#3 A Match Against Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women's Title

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Will Alexa's reign come to a halt at Wrestlemania?

Alternatively, Ronda could turn her attention to Alexa Bliss and the Raw Women's Championship. If Asuka jumps to Smackdown, then Alexa is without a challenger for Wrestlemania and Rousey could easily step up and fill that vacancy. While the two may seem like a mismatch in the ring, Alexa is one of the best heels in the WWE right now and she would no try her hardest to get Rousey over as the female face of Raw, which, let's be honest, the company are likely going to want to do.

Alexa has been a great women's champion and whoever she drops the belt to at Mania will come out looking like a million bucks. Rousey would make a great choice, though, personally, I would reserve that spot for Nia. The two women have teased a feud for so long, and Nia feels like she is on the precipice of something special right now.

#4 A Match with Nia Jax

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Nia has made her feelings about Ronda's debut clear

Talking of Nia Jax, the former NXT superstar took to Twitter the day after the Rumble and tweeted the following: 'Cool she's here... I guess 30 women making history can just be forgotten', in reference to Rousey's post-Rumble debut. While many sites are claiming this is a shoot, it seems unlikely that Nia would be silly enough to undermine one of the biggest signings in recent WWE history, especially when there is so much media attention on the product right now.

No, what would be more likely though, is this being a work, and the WWE going down the old 'earn your stripes' route with Rousey during her early days in the company. Make no mistakes about it, the WWE will want to position Rousey as their biggest star in the women's division and they will try to get as much babyface sympathy for her in the early runnings as possible. One way to do this would be to have the women's locker room reject her as a competitor and for her to have to go out and prove herself between the ropes. Everyone loves a plucky underdog, even if that plucky underdog is one of the meanest women on the face of the earth.

Nia would be the perfect locker room bully to whom Rousey has to prove herself and I don't think the company would think twice about having Jax do the business for Ronda in her debut match. Nia is on fire right now, though, and a face turn seems imminent, so this could prove to be a risky move.

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