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Every since arriving in the squared circle of WWE, fans and pundits have questioned whether ex-UFC star Ronda Rousey had what it took to make the transition from combat fighting to professional wrestling and sports entertainment.
Of course, Rousey has proven herself since her 2018 arrival by performing in above average matches against the likes of Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair, elevating the women's division to an even greater plateau than it had already reached before she arrived.
Though there have been and will continue to be hiccups along the way, such as the unfortunate botches in the unplanned RAW title match against Ruby Riot, Rousey is still poised to become perhaps the biggest and best female star in the company's history if and when she decides to stick it out and perfect her new-found craft.
Her rumored post-WrestleMania leave of absence may, for some, be a cause for concern. However, since she has reportedly said she loves wrestling and is in fact contractually bound under a three-year deal, it is likely that she will use any potential leave as a mere rest period to rejuvenate so she can return and scratch off a long list of dream opponents.
These are the top 10 WWE dream matches of Ronda Rousey, as of March 11, 2019.
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#10 Beth Phoenix
Beth Phoenix is popularly known as the Glamazon, and for good reason. The Amazonian power wrestler is one of the strongest women in the history of the company. So strong, that she was even allowed to enter the all-men's Royal Rumble once in 2012.
With a credible amateur wrestling background and four WWE Women's/Divas championship reigns under her belt, the Hall of Famer could potentially make for great opponent against Ronda Rousey if she could be talked into coming out of retirement, as she likely will following the angle with Nia Jax and Tamina at Fastlane 2019.
Semi-legitimate grappling from both women could be gainfully employed, along with a host of power moves from Phoenix, contrasted with judo throws and submissions from Rousey. The David vs. Goliath matching of Rousey vs. Nia Jax, where Ronda literally climbed up on Jax like a tree in her backyard, could be even more successfully executed with a more respected and experienced opponent, like Beth.
#9 Sonia Deville
Sonya Deville isn't exactly a name that comes to mind when you think "dream match". However, the former amateur MMA fighter is arguably one of the most improved sports entertainers on the main roster over the past year.
She has the background, looks, entrance, catch phrase ("Hair Up & Square Up") and in-ring cohesion to be credibly built up as a good challenger for Rousey. Just check out the kick sequences from her Money In The Bank qualifying match with Naomi last year to see how in sync she is with everyone.
Deville's limited mixed-martial arts credentials might pale in comparison to Ronda's Olympic medal and trail-blazing UFC legacy, but her strike-based style differs from Rousey's judo pedigree enough for the two to simultaneously co-exist.
Besides, in the world of kayfabe, Deville could conceivably be built to Rousey's level through some video packages, a couple compelling promos, and by simply tapping out a few of the other top women from SmackDown Live!
The most important thing is that Rousey vs. Deville would undoubtedly seem more "real" (and thus more compelling) than the typical WWE women's match.
#8 Ember Moon
One of the most athletic and hard-working women in WWE, the She-nom Ember Moon could make a fantastic opponent for the Baddest Woman On The Planet. Moon, who famously feuded with Asuka in NXT before debuting on Monday Night Raw the night after WrestleMania 34, has eight years of indie experience and tends to mesh well with other women who hit hard and perform submissions.
She lost the NXT women's championship to Rousey's BFF Shayna Baszler nearly a year ago in what was a solid, respectable match at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, so it's not hard to imagine how she and Rousey could gel in the ring together.
Ember Moon's fast pacing, hard strikes and kicks, unique headscissor variations and brutal Eclipse finisher juxtaposed against Rousey's martial arts takedowns and submission holds could make for a highly enjoyable match.
Unfortunately, Moon (who is currently out with an elbow injury) is a minor babyface in a division helmed by Rousey (the top face) and her built-in UFC fame, so WWE appears to be unwilling to put the two against each other.
#7 Io Shirai
World of Stardom sensation Io Shirai, an NXT recruit and runner up in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, is considered one of, if not the, best active female wrestlers today, so a match with Ronda Rousey would be at least interesting, and at best, amazing.
Shirai, whose main forte is gymnastics-influenced high-flying moves, is also very versatile in her in-ring performances (one of the reasons why she's considered the best in the world) and could undoubtedly adapt to a more mat-based or submission style if the situation called for it.
The language barrier could be a small issue in the ring, but Shirai has wrestled many non-Japanese in quality matches back home (including Rousey's MMA pal Shayna Baszler) so any kinks from failed communication would probably be minor.
The only problem I see with the match-up is the size difference. Shirai's smaller frame might make her appear less threatening to uninitiated audiences that aren't knowledgeable of her skills. Once she gets to show off her stuff though, that shouldn't be a problem.
#6 Meiko Satomura
Japanese legend Meiko Satomura, a 20-plus year pro-wrestling veteran who once appeared on an episode of WCW Monday Nitro, stepped into a WWE ring for the first time in 2018 and drew massive praise for her performance in the second Mae Young Classic tournament at Full Sail University.
Satomura, who faced the likes of Asuka and Io Shirai in brutal matches in Japan, and still appears to be in her physical prime today, has gone on record saying she'd love to continue to work with WWE and in particular, with Ronda Rousey.
While it doesn't appear likely that the unsigned Satomura will get to fulfill her wish, it's hard to avoid daydreaming about the possibilities of the hard-hitting martial arts-influenced wrestler putting on an epic performance with Rousey. The stiff kicks and strikes, submission holds and overall pro wrestling psychology employed between them would be nothing short of incredible.
#5 Asuka
The Empress of Tomorrow and current SmackDown women's champion isn't afraid of Ronda Rousey. She slapped away Rousey's attempt at a handshake following the end of the first women's Royal Rumble in 2018, leaving fans salivating over the possibility of the Empress of Tomorrow, long respected and feared for her stiff kicks and strikes, taking on the former UFC star in a big pay-per-view dream match.
As with Io Shirai, Asuka has a limited command of English and could conceivably face communication issues mid-match, but given her track record of successful matches in the company over the past three years, it's likely that any hiccups would be minor.
Moreover, the word "botch" is hardly in Asuka's vocabulary and the strike and submission-based style she is known for is so simple and MMA-centric that there's absolutely no doubt Rousey could play off it. Imagine Ronda and Asuka going full-throttle in a series of chain sequences and trying to apply armbars on each other. It's a downright entertaining thought.
#4 Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus, one of the most celebrated women in the history of WWE, is on this list purely for legacy purposes. Since she is a 7x champion, a Hall of Famer and one of the very few pro-wrestlers to win their retirement match, there's no doubt a faceoff between her and the top star of the current generation could generate great interest. I don't even think it's going too far to say this match could be a watershed moment in the history of the women's division.
A well-respected veteran like Stratus coming back for a one-off in order to put over the new era's top name could lend an air of credibility to both wrestlers, as well as the division at large.
Plus, while it's true that the 40-plus year old Stratus is long past her prime, she still remains in decent shape (as witnessed at the 2018 Royal Rumble and the Evolution pay-per-view) and could conceivably put on a good match if well-crafted by the likes of WWE trainers like Sara Amato or Sarah Stock.
#3 Shayna Baszler
Perhaps Ronda's closest friend in pro-sports, The Queen of Spades Shayna Baszler spent at least two years, post-UFC release, honing her pro-wrestling craft on the global independent scene. She worked future NXT and Mae Young Classic competitors in multiple countries until finally getting picked up by WWE at the same time that they showed interest in Rousey.
It's hardly a coincidence then, that Baszler was booked to make it to the finals of the MYC and has dominated the NXT women's division ever since, even becoming the first ever two-time champion. This came after years of Rousey and Baszler's shared time in the Strikeforce MMA promotion, followed by their time on The Ultimate Fighter reality show and in the UFC women's division.
Indeed, Baszler and Rousey are so inextricably linked that it's hard to picture them not eventually facing off in an epic feud - worked MMA holds, ringside weapons and years of mutual professional history to play off in promo segments.
They may be currently aligned in their shared MMA Horsewomen stable with Jessamin Duke and Marina Shafir, but once Baszler is called up to the main roster, there's no doubt they may need to go their separate ways on camera, given that Rousey is a mostly likeable babyface and Baszler a strong heel.
WWE could easily use this as an opportunity to build an incredible story.
#2 Charlotte Flair
Though Charlotte Flair faced Ronda Rousey already at Survivor Series just a few months ago, a true dream match between them would need a definitive finish. Flair attacked Rousey with a kindo stick at the conclusion of their Staples Center match last year, getting herself disqualified in the process and leaving the story between them unfinished.
Rousey returned the favor a month later by pushing Charlotte and Becky Lynch off a ladder in the TLC pay-per-view main event, leading to the currently-planned triangle match between all three women in the main event of WrestleMania 35. Still, regardless of what happens at 'Mania, a conclusive singles match between Rousey and Flair is still in order.
Flair, the progeny of her legendary father and former multi-time women's champion, is perhaps Rousey's most evenly-matched opponent in WWE. The two women blended very well together in their Los Angeles match and given the chance, there's no doubt they could potentially put on a five-star performance.
#1 Becky Lynch
"The Man" Becky Lynch is without a shadow of a doubt, the WWE Universe's hottest current act, regardless of gender. Possessing the fighting spirit of her Irish heritage along with a Stone Cold Steve Austin-influenced anti-hero complex, it is Lynch who is Ronda Rousey's greatest future opponent.
The inevitable WrestleMania showdown between these two superstars is looming (albeit with Charlotte added to the mix), and the clash in personalities is just as appealing as the clash in wrestling techniques.
Lynch, who sees herself as going against the establishment to get what she rightfully deserves, plays well off Ronda's role as a sort of appointed champion who hasn't had to fight and claw nearly as much to get what she has (or at least not in WWE).
Athletically, there's no doubt a contest between these women could become perhaps the greatest women's match of all time. Lynch, who is formally trained in amateur martial arts, could easily perform a high-intensity, high-stakes bout against the pure combat skills of Rousey.
Fortunately, this match is indeed coming but with Charlotte added as a third wheel, the WWE Universe will have to wait and see if Rousey vs. Lynch one-on-one ever happens as well.
