Ronda Rousey: Too Soon to Challenge for Raw Women’s Championship
By Bryan Heaton
Nia Jax hand selected Ronda Rousey as her next challenger for the Raw Women’s Championship. But it’s way too soon to throw the Baddest Woman on the Planet into a title match.
Well, that was unexpected. On a day when WWE Raw is taping in the United Kingdom — historically a slow day for the show, and WWE as a whole — big news surrounding Ronda Rousey dropped. Turns out, Rousey is the new number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship.
Wait, what?
At the NBCUniversal Upfront in Radio City Music Hall, Rousey was making the media rounds with Cathy Kelley and Charlotte when Nia Jax approached. The current champ issued a challenge to Rousey for a title match at Money in the Bank. Despite Charlotte egging her on, Rousey tried to let it go, claiming that there were a number of superstars more deserving of a title match than someone who’s only had one match. But Jax was relentless, and eventually Ronda gave in and accepted the challenge.
I don’t think I’m overstating things when I say this is a terrible idea. As Rousey herself said, she’s only had one match. That’s like taking someone who just got their driver’s license and putting them in the Daytona 500. It will not go well.
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Rousey was able to succeed in her WrestleMania match because she wasn’t asked to do too much. Kurt Angle and Triple H handled the bulk of the action. Rousey and Stephanie McMahon did what was required of them, but there was room to hide. You can’t hide in a title match.
Let’s not forget that Jax, even though she is much improved over the past year or so, is still somewhat inexperienced herself. Who’s going to take charge in this fight at MITB? It seems ill-advised to so blatantly put the cart in front of the horse like this. Ronda Rousey may very well be one of the biggest superstars in all of WWE some day, but to rush her like this is counter-productive to her development.
And heaven forbid if Rousey is victorious! Half the WWE Universe is spending all their energy booing Roman Reigns for getting things he is perceived to be unworthy of. If Rousey were to become Raw Women’s Champ while Sasha Banks, Bayley, Ruby Riott, and Mickie James are all on the brand, things would go south pretty quick. All that goodwill she’s built up since her official debut would disappear, and she’d basically be Lady Reigns.
Next: Ruby Riott Should Be Nia Jax's Next Challenger
I can understand why WWE would want to push Ronda Rousey so quickly. But there’s a million reasons why that urge should be resisted. Put Ruby Riott up against Jax at MITB, and let Rousey continue the slow march to success. What say you?