The rumours were circulating from Sunday night right through to Monday that Ronda Rousey’s next televised in-ring appearance in the WWE was going to be at the Money in the Bank event.
The expectation was that the former UFC star could follow up her brilliant debut at WrestleMania 34 - where she and Kurt Angle managed to get past Triple H and Stephanie McMahon - by standing opposite somebody like Mickie James and alongside Natalya.
MONEY IN THE BANK
That was based on what has been unfolding on Monday Night RAW ever since the Superstar Shake-up, with many assuming that a potential heel turn for Natalya would lead to a singles feud between the pair as she arguably knows Rousey’s skillset the most and could get the best out of her.
Instead, WWE surprised the fans on Monday by revealing that Rousey would, in fact, be competing at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view in Chicago next month, but she’d be challenging Nia Jax for the RAW Women’s Championship.
The challenge was thrown down by Jax during the NBC/Universal upfront, where Charlotte Flair was also in attendance. While Rousey admitted that other women deserve the match more than she does as she’s only had one match, Jax claimed she’s challenging Rowdy and not anyone else before the handshake sealed the deal, as you’ll be able to see below.
However, there could be a very good reason why WWE decided to suddenly book Rousey in this match at Money in the Bank rather than SummerSlam, with Twitter account Wrestle Votes revealing the possible reason before the match was officially announced while the rumours were still circulating.
NO CHOICE
The account revealed that a source told them it’s because WWE feel they simply cannot ignore Rousey for another pay-per-view, as she’s already missed Backlash with her match at the Grandest Stage of Them All the only one she has featured in - so it’s understandable why WWE fans have been questioning the accuracy of her role as a ‘full-time superstar.’
They added that along with this, they didn’t want to throw her in the Money in the Bank ladder match and won’t book her to lose in a qualifying match, so they went ahead with the title match.
The account tweeted: “Asked about the Ronda Rousey v Nia Jax rumours happening at MITB & not SummerSlam...Was told, ‘If they are true, it’s because they can’t ignore Rousey for another PPV, don’t want her in the ladder match & can’t have her lose a qualifying match, so they had no choice.”
With WWE reportedly trying to keep Rousey unbeaten until WrestleMania 35 to potentially battle Charlotte Flair, it seems unlikely that they could book Jax to defeat Rousey in her first singles match which happens to be for the championship; although, interferences can’t be ruled out either to keep the title on Jax while keeping Rousey looking strong.
Fans won’t be too happy that Rousey has been elevated straight to the top in a huge championship match, but they’d be even more annoyed if Rousey continues to miss big events and doesn’t compete when WWE revealed she would be a full-time WWE superstar.
What do you make of the possible reason WWE booked a huge title match for Ronda Rousey at Money in the Bank? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.