A major surprise was waiting on WWE Smackdown for the fans in the form of Ronda Rousey who walked out into the ring and attacked two blue brand female roster members. This has also set up a huge tag team match for next week’s edition prior to the Elimination Chamber PLE.
Ronda Rousey’s entrance music interrupted Shayna Baszler, who was already exchanging a promo with Natalya after being named a “knockoff version of Rousey.” Baszler pointed out her own career accomplishments in pro wrestling in NXT before her best friend had even emerged to the WWE.
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Moments after these comments, The Baddest Woman on the Planet hit the ring and she was on the same page with Baszler. They both attacked Natalya. But the heel duos attack was simply no matchup for her. Shotzi tried to make the save but she was expectedly taken out by them.
Ronda Rousey has not appeared on WWE programming since she dropped the SmackDown Women’s Championship in a shocking manner to the returning Charlotte Flair on the December 30 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. She also did not participate in the 30-woman Royal Rumble match last month which spread uncertainty over her WWE status.
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Ronda Rousey’s Smackdown return was out before the show
But prior to this week’s Smackdown, PWInsider reported that fans in Connecticut have spotted Ronda Rousey in the area ahead of the show that went down from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. Proving the follow-up speculations true, the former champion did return to the storyline and she’s also expected to be in action at Wrestlemania 39.
Unlike last year, Ronda Rousey can’t go after any of the Women’s Championship at the event, as the Elimination Chamber match to decide the WrestleMania title challenger for Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair doesn’t have her in the lineup. As for the Smackdown Women’s Title, the 2023 Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley already chose the champion to set up a Wrestlemania match.
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At this point, it’s safe to assume that Ronda Rousey may decide to pursue the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, which is currently held by Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. To strengthen the alliance, WWE has also booked her and Baszler in a tag team match on next week’s Smackdown against Natalya and Shotzi.