WrestleMania is almost here and it’s been confirmed that Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler are set to compete in a fatal four way tag team match, but it sounds like WWE had different plans for the Baddest Woman on the Planet just a few months ago.
Fightful Select reports that originally Ronda Rousey was set to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Raquel Rodriguez at the Royal Rumble and plans called for her to retain the belt. That was the plan up until December, but creative couldn’t be agreed upon heading into WrestleMania season.
Rhea Ripley had long been planned to win the Royal Rumble with the idea being that she would challenge Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania. Charlotte Flair would then return to the Raw brand and challenge Bianca Belair. Those plans were said to still be in effect until late November/early December, and Charlotte Flair was still off TV at that time.
People familiar with the situation said that Ronda Rousey pushed for an preferred a run in the women’s tag team division with Shayna Baszler. The run is playing out on TV right now and is expected to lead to Rousey & Baszler challenging for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
The title match with Raquel Rodriguez was then moved up to December and took place on SmackDown. WWE then brought Charlotte back to TV and worked her into championship plans that same day.
