After Ronda Rousey was unable to overcome Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38, a new report has claimed the loss is part of a wider plan for the former UFC star.
On April 2nd, WrestleMania Saturday saw Royal Rumble winner Ronda Rousey challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The near 20-minute clash ended when Charlotte caught Rousey with a big boot for the pinfall victory.
Ahead of ‘The Showcase Of The Immortals’, many had expected ‘The Rowdy One’ to defeat Flair to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship for the first time. However, a new report from the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer claims that the pair are set to face off in several more matches, meaning that Charlotte defeated Ronda to kick off the feud.
“Charlotte Flair beat Ronda Rousey to keep the Smackdown title after a ref bump. The idea is for this to be a long-term program and thus the belief was Flair had to win the first match, even if Flair got the better of Rousey as well in the angles leading up to it. One thing that looks obvious is that Rousey is not going to be over and have the meaning she did when she first came.”
The latest episode of SmackDown seemed to confirm the report as the opening segment featured Ronda Rousey speaking for the first time since her WrestleMania loss.
Speaking to Kayla Braxton in the ring, Rousey said she wanted a rematch and she made it clear she wanted there to be no doubts. She then challenged Charlotte Flair to an I Quit match at WrestleMania Backlash on May 16th.
Flair then appeared on the screen and claimed that Rousey couldn’t even beat her in checkers, much less an I Quit match. ‘The Queen’ then denied her request and told her to “Get to the back of the line, bitch.”
Rousey didn’t take the comments lying down and told Flair that the fight will happen and she’ll make Flair scream “I Quit” when she turns the champ’s arm backwards.
H/T to Sportskeeda for the above transcription.
Ronda Rousey failed to win the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 38. After a hard-fought battle, The Baddest Woman On The Planet lost her match against Charlotte Flair. According to new reports, the feud between Rousey and Flair will continue.
It got reported that Ronda was upset after WWE changed plans at the last minute. The former UFC Champion rebuffed these rumors. It came as a surprise to many that Rousey agreed to lose to Flair at WrestleMania. Interestingly, Rousey has lost only two matches in WWE, and both came at WrestleMania.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter said the current plan is for a long-term feud between the two women. It's why Rousey had to lose the first match in what's going to be a series of matches between the two:
Given the current plans for a long-term feud between Flair and Rousey, we speculate that the former RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey will eventually beat Flair and become the SmackDown Women's Champion.
Rousey won the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble Match and challenged Charlotte. Reports suggested she didn't face Becky Lynch because WWE wanted to build a feud between them for WrestleMania 39.
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Poll : Who should have won at WrestleMania?
Charlotte Flair
Ronda Rousey
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The intensity of the rivalry between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey was apparent from the onset as the two Superstars held nothing back in the opening minutes with Flair dropping Rousey onto the ring apron before promptly tossing her to the arena floor.
Watch WrestleMania 38 On Demand on Peacock in the United States.
Flair and Rousey grappled and exchanged submission attempts as both made it abundantly clear leading up to the match that they wanted tap the other one out. After a devastating spear, The Opportunity hung Rousey up in the ropes for a submission attempt until Rousey sat up and launched Flair off the top rope with an arm drag.
Charlotte Flair stops Ronda Rousey's momentum with a brutal spear. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.
Rousey nearly locked in the armbar after a Piper’s Pit, but the SmackDown Women’s Champion rolled out of it and responded with a big boot. After multiple submission attempts and reversals, Rousey finally cinched in the ankle lock, dropping to the mat and only relinquishing her grip after a few swift kicks to the head. Flair answered in kind with a Figure Eight, but somehow Rousey was able to reverse the pressure and roll out of the ring to break the hold.
After both Superstars were nearly counted out, Rousey thought she had the match won with another Piper’s Pit as the referee counted to three, but he then noticed Flair’s foot on the rope. Flair went for the Figure Eight again but was kicked off and sent flying into the referee. Rousey jumped in and locked in the armbar forcing Flair to tap, but the ref was knocked out and didn’t see it. As Rousey attempted to revive the official, Flair caught her with a second big boot to score the pinfall and retain her title.
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The intensity of the rivalry between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey was apparent from the onset as the two Superstars held nothing back in the opening minutes with Flair dropping Rousey onto the ring apron before promptly tossing her to the arena floor.
Watch WrestleMania 38 On Demand on Peacock in the United States.
Flair and Rousey grappled and exchanged submission attempts as both made it abundantly clear leading up to the match that they wanted tap the other one out. After a devastating spear, The Opportunity hung Rousey up in the ropes for a submission attempt until Rousey sat up and launched Flair off the top rope with an arm drag.
Charlotte Flair stops Ronda Rousey's momentum with a brutal spear. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more.
Rousey nearly locked in the armbar after a Piper’s Pit, but the SmackDown Women’s Champion rolled out of it and responded with a big boot. After multiple submission attempts and reversals, Rousey finally cinched in the ankle lock, dropping to the mat and only relinquishing her grip after a few swift kicks to the head. Flair answered in kind with a Figure Eight, but somehow Rousey was able to reverse the pressure and roll out of the ring to break the hold.
After both Superstars were nearly counted out, Rousey thought she had the match won with another Piper’s Pit as the referee counted to three, but he then noticed Flair’s foot on the rope. Flair went for the Figure Eight again but was kicked off and sent flying into the referee. Rousey jumped in and locked in the armbar forcing Flair to tap, but the ref was knocked out and didn’t see it. As Rousey attempted to revive the official, Flair caught her with a second big boot to score the pinfall and retain her title.