From the WWE Rumor Mill: Is the WWE planning an Asuka v. Ronda Rousey match?

What's the story?

In a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the possibility of a colossal match in the Women's Division. Meltzer said that the WWE is possibly planning to have Asuka and Ronda Rousey clash at some point in 2018.

In case you didn't know...

As Sportskeeda reported yesterday, it appears that Rousey and the WWE are in the final stages of an agreement for Rousey to make the move from MMA to professional wrestling.

The current rumours suggest that a battle of the Four Horsewomen at WrestleMania 34 between the MMA group led by Rousey, and the WWE group of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley, will take place.

The heart of the matter

Meltzer noticed that the WWE recently changed Asuka's finisher to an armbar, as seen in her match with Alicia Fox this week on Monday Night Raw. The armbar was the calling card of finishing MMA matches for Ronda Rousey in most of her victories.

He would further explain his thoughts in the quote below:

"Given Asuka switching from the chicken wing Asuka Lock to the armbar, and Rousey as the legit armbar master, and then giving Asuka the shooter push and protecting her so much, that would seem to be a natural match up down the line."

With the change in Asuka's finisher and USA Today's report on Wednesday, the timing is definitely curious. Time will tell if this is the second feud for Rousey after the battle of the Four Horsewomen, or if that plan has changed.

What's next?

On this week's edition of NXT, a vignette hyping the debut of Shayna Baszler, the runner-up of the inaugural Mae Young Classic, was aired. Her debut could start the ball rolling for the eventual debuts of Rousey and the rest of the Four Horsewomen.

Author's take

To me, it's hard telling if this is a tease months in advance for Asuka v. Rousey, or if it is just Vince McMahon and co. making the call to change the finisher for Asuka. I can see it being either way.

I'm not sure what the plan is for Rousey in the WWE. I don't expect her to be full-time, but I don't think she'll be as sporadic as Brock Lesnar. My hope is she's around in spurts like Chris Jericho for some feuds that last a few months, then when she needs to step away for a movie commitment or anything else, she'll be able to.