Ronda Rousey: Is her return a ‘good thing’ for the women’s division?

Ronda Rousey’s return raises more questions than answers for the women’s division.

Fightful Select broke news on Monday that WWE is interested in bringing back a powerful name in professional sports, Ronda Rousey. As interest in WWE’s content wains, and the women’s division is especially experiencing mismanagement, one must wonder if Rousey’s return creates a boost to the division and the promotion. The answer is “yes,” only if the practice of sensible booking is employed from start to finish.

Author Scarlett Harris published an important book in 2021 titled “A Diva Was a Female Version of a Wrestler.” In it, she chronicles a lot of known and unknown history of women within the WWE. The final champion chapter of the book covers Rousey’s presence in professional wrestling, aptly named “The Problem with Ronda Rousey.” Reading this book and specifically, this chapter highlights a concern about what Rousey’s return to the women’s division could mean if improved care is not utilized this time around.

In her book, Harris details the many questionable elements of Rousey’s place in wrestling. She chronicles the moment she stole the spotlight from Asuka at the end of the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble. Talks distinctively about the sexist rhetoric in her storyline with Nikki Bella heading into WWE Evolution, and with the way her exit from wrestling hindered the women’s division. All that evidence is clear and WWE’s women’s division can’t afford another situation of that magnitude.

Rousey’s return is a band-aid for the condition of the main roster women’s division.

WWE’s roster cuts since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic have greatly impacted the women’s division. Veteran names like Ruby Soho, Franky Monet, Ember Moon, and others were discharged from the company and no real efforts to build up the roster were made. The Four Horsewomen stand at the pinnacle of the division, but there are far fewer names that can truly stand against them in drawing power and interest.

Liv Morgan failed in multiple attempts to capture the title. Bianca Belair saw her run as champion cut dramatically short. Doudrop is up next to face Becky Lynch, after amassing weeks’ worth of losses. Charlotte Flair’s SmackDown division is so thin she’s in the Royal Rumble rather than defending the title – the second PPV in a row where she wasn’t included. The women’s division needs a boost, and Rousey could be that in name power, but there’s danger there as well.

Rousey can’t be booked in a fashion that allows her to run through the entire division. WWE made the mistake of focusing specifically on her without elevating anyone else which left the roster poised to find itself in the state it is today. There’s potential to create stars likes of Morgan, Doudrop, Shotzi Blackheart, and others if they are given the opportunity to shine while Rousey’s name sparks more eyeballs to the product. Rousey’s name comes with a wealth of clout because of what she’s done as a professional athlete. WWE needs to take this opportunity to “give the rub” to some of the other women on their roster if she were to return for a brief run.

One of the big fears whenever Brock Lesnar is inserted into the WWE title picture is that his presence will dwarf everyone else on the roster without making any other names along the way. Ronda Rousey is of the same ilk. If her return is imminent, WWE cannot afford to make the same mistakes from the past. Not as their women’s division continues to fall further behind the wayside.