WWE Raw Predictions: Triple H, Shawn Michaels Throw Down Gauntlet
By Bryan Heaton
Rowdy Ronda Finally Gets an Evolution Opponent
When Stephanie McMahon, the most important figure in WWE’s women’s division both now and forever, first announced the Evolution pay per view, there was no official talent announcement. All we knew was that the finals of the Mae Young Classic would take place, and every WWE women’s championship would be defended at the event — Raw, SmackDown, and NXT (and NXT UK, but no one seems to be talking about that).
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With Ronda Rousey holding the Raw Women’s Championship, it looks like she’ll be one half of that title match — barring any unforeseen events between now and Oct. 28. There’s only three weeks until Evolution, so if there’s going to be any kind of story attached to the title match, now would be a good time to start telling it.
Rumors have indicated that Nikki Bella would be announced as Rousey’s opponent at Evolution, but given the past several weeks of programming, nothing has been done to set that in motion. No miscommunication, no accidental physical attacks, nothing. Would WWE really turn Nikki on a dime like that to go after Rousey? (Well, yeah, but I don’t see it happening.)
Personally, I don’t think either Nikki or Ronda is equipped to do a dual babyface feud, even if abbreviated and finished in a few weeks. And I don’t see a true heel turn for either of them, so I’d venture that those rumors were floated to gauge response, and when it came back less than enthusiastic, plans changed (as they’re known to do).
So who faces Rousey? Maybe we’ll get the super-obvious Natalya heel turn — at least there’s some precedent for that, with Nattie and Ronda established as “great friends.” It may be a bit obvious to do a “jealous of my best friend” angle, and a bit silly to do it for a historic all-women’s pay per view. But it could happen.