Ronda Rousey’s WWE Run Cooling Off On The Road To WrestleMania 34?

Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle’s match with The Authority at WrestleMania 34 is one of the biggest bouts WWE has booked in quite some time. Not only is Angle getting back in the ring with The Game of course, but Rousey is finally making her WWE ring debut.

It has all the markings of an instant classic. Stephanie McMahon is along for the ride, which means anything can happen. Rousey’s involvement means mainstream media coverage for the company. Angle and Hunter will surely deliver some great moments. Fans are ready for this one.

But has this match already cooled off beyond what it should have? Ronda Rousey was supposedly set to appear on every Monday Night Raw between her debut and Mania on April 8. But her last appearance on Raw was on March 19 in a non-televised segment with Dana Brooke.

That segment was cringe worthy at best. It’s not that Rousey has not put in the work to compete. It’s not that she won’t be able to do her part at WrestleMania. But her recent absence from TV is more than curious. Why would the company choose to leave her off of Raw when Mania is right around the corner?

It could be that WWE wants to limit her visibility on the road to WrestleMania. The more fans see her, they more they may tune out mentally. Her time on TV must count; it must mean something. The match is on and the wheels are moving. Why should she appear on Raw again right now?

The fact is Ronda Rousey wants this. She wants to be a full time WWE Superstar. But that must mean more than just occasionally showing up and running through overly rehearsed spots. She was a beast in the Octagon and fans want that from her now.

What would be the harm in Rousey working a quick exhibition match against a lower tier talent on Raw? It’s a move the company uses for others and it’s all in an effort to get someone over. Why shouldn’t the same be done for Rousey? WWE obviously wants her Mania shot to be important, which is why she’s being kept out of the ring for now. But is that a mistake?

She has had moments of looking good when it comes to her promo work. She was believably sincere when she first appeared on Monday Night Raw and she’s been humble since then. But how long will that be enough for the WWE audience that can be highly critical of outsiders? Will the time come when Rousey either needs to fully embrace this new life or perhaps just let it go?

It may not be time to hit the panic button on Rousey’s career just yet. She still has time. It’s understandable that she doesn’t look like a pro wresting veteran on the mic; she’s not one. This is new to her and no amount of time spent in UFC could prepare her for the weekly grind of WWE TV.

With any luck she will grow accustomed to her new role. But if she’s not there to learn, it’s questionable booking to say the least. Ronda Rousey should be okay in the long run. But what about the rest of the talent in her debut match at WrestleMania?

Kurt Angle is not the same man he once was in the ring. That’s not to say he can’t get the job done between the ropes, but he has lost a step. Has he lost too many steps to be truly effective on April 8? This is not a street fight. He can’t show up dressed in tactical gear like The Shield and bash his way to a win.

Angle must deliver in this match. He surely feels the pressure to be on his game and his fans want him to be on his game. They believe in him and it’s because of that belief that they still support him to this point. Will he physically be able to go on April 8? Or will he be a shadow of his former self?

Triple H is The Game despite who he’s working. His repertoire was never explosive and he has always remained grounded in his matches. His methodical style continues to serve him well, especially now. Like Angle, Hunter is perhaps not the performer he once was. But time has not slowed him down all that much.

The real x-factor here is Stephanie. Unlike the other three participants in this match, she is not a pro wrestler. She will know her spots and she will hopefully be on time for them. But in terms of what she will physically bring to the match, fans are perhaps not expecting much.

This match is flawed primarily because it just doesn’t seem like a WrestleMania main event in 2018. The stars are right and the storyline is logical. But the process felt rushed and somewhat forced. Angle is around five years too late for the match and the same could be said of Triple H.

Ronda Rousey is in because she’s Ronda Rousey. Stephanie McMahon probably shouldn’t have been thrown in at all. WWE is going with what seems like the best storyline for everyone and it’s hard to argue with their logic.

But that does not mean it was the best idea. It also doesn’t mean the match will work. As always, it falls to WWE when it comes to booking this one the right way. For Ronda Rousey’s sake, this match should be a hit. If not, then it may not matter if she shows up again or not.