Is Ronda Rousey Ready for Nia Jax at WWE Money in the Bank 2018?

Ronda Rousey is on her way to WWE Money in the Bank on Sunday, June 17. Her match with Raw Women’s champion Nia Jax is still being debated among fans and that’s understandable. Rousey is getting a title shot much earlier than anyone likely believed she would and that’s a problem for those who feel she just doesn’t deserve it.

But once the match actually happens, the more important issue is what becomes of it all. Was this indeed a good move on WWE’s part or could this blow up in the company’s face? There seems to be no good answer right now but it’s clear this match is enjoying a lot of spotlight.

WWE touts Rousey as “The Baddest Woman on the Planet.” The fact that she had never competed in a pro wrestling ring didn’t seem to matter. She did not have a pedigree in the business and of course was bringing her UFC persona with her. It seemed like the best way to market her.

Indeed her last two fights were never really a factor in her new role. She may have left the world of MMA with consecutive losses but she came into the world of WWE with her reputation still intact. Of course the real test was to come when she stepped into a WWE ring to actually perform.

She wowed fans at WrestleMania 34. It was obvious that Rousey was ready for the task at hand and it was even more obvious that she had left her other life far behind. Rousey was a natural and she definitely lived up to the hype. Talk of a possible Ronda Rousey versus Charlotte Flair dream match ramped up once again and with good reason.

But while she is now back in the very familiar spotlight, there is no question that she must once again deliver. This is not a tag match that lies ahead of her at Money in the Bank. This is a one-on-one contest. It’s something brand new for her in WWE.

On one had, it does seem that she should be just fine. Ronda looked better at Mania than some of her male counterparts and she has every right to feel confident in her ability to come through on June 17. She has trained extraordinarily hard and it shows in every aspect of her game. She had to be ready for The Grandest Stage of Them All and WWE ensured that she was. But she also had to want it.

It’s not enough to love the business. It’s also not enough to come in and believe acceptance is automatic. The majority of men and women that have walked into WWE had to prove themselves. There are very few exceptions to that and Rousey was not one of them.

She may have come in on top in a WrestleMania main event thanks to her name, but if she could not go in the ring, she never would have been there. She surely did want to embarrass herself or the company. So when she walked down the ramp at Mania, she did so knowing that she could deliver. WWE had faith in her.

But does that same faith translate to her first singles match at Money in the Bank? One of the biggest issues she faces is the fact that this time, she does not have a safety net. Triple H and Kurt Angle will not be in the ring with her to lend a helping hand. There is no ring general available this time.

There is also no Stephanie McMahon to play the victim. Stephanie did an excellent job at WrestleMania by simply just being there with a target on her back. Ronda could toss her around and make an example of her. She showed off against Stephanie and the crowd loved it.

However she does not have a victim this time. Nia Jax is not a lightweight. Unlike Stephanie, Jax is a trained professional wrestler and she knows her way around the ring. She’s been booked as a monster in the women’s division and no one has ever been able to slow her down. Nia is the real deal.

But she’s not Charlotte and she‘s not Natalya. Therein lays a potential problem for Rousey and WWE. Jax only has three years under her belt and many fans do not see her as one of the best female wrestlers in WWE. She does give maximum effort and she obviously puts her heart into her matches. But is that going to be enough for Ronda Rousey?

Jax does not have years of experience in the ring to draw from. If Ronda loses her way or if something goes wrong, will Jax know what to do and where to go next? What are the chances that Jax herself will not be prepared for the match? There is no denying that she always has focus but this is unlike any other match for her.

This is Ronda Rousey’s first singles match in WWE and it’s a title match. It’s extremely high profile and the whole world will be watching when the opening bell rings. Could nerves become a factor for either woman when the light turns green? If so, does the match fall apart?

The truth is that Jax would also not be in her current spot unless she could handle the pressure. Nia has proved herself and she certainly knows how important this match is. With any luck, everything will go smoothly and both sides will come out looking better than when they went in.

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More importantly, Ronda Rousey should be on track when this one is over. It’s unclear what plans are in store for Rousey but WWE is doing well with her so far. She’s on a road that’s likely leading to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35. If so, then that road is just beginning.