Major Backstage Update – WWE’s Plans For Ronda Rousey

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

UPDATE x 3: As reported this week, WWE is looking to do a match between Ronda Rousey vs. Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 32 next year, an idea that influenced what happened in their angle at last WrestleMania 31 earlier this month.

Many questioned why Rousey didn’t execute her famous armbar on Stephanie during the angle, and apparently that was a move done by design by WWE.

There was talk within WWE of wanting to do a Rousey vs. McMahon match dating back to the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion’s appearance at the SummerSlam pay-per-view event last August.

Eventually, WWE managed to secure Rousey for a “one-off” contracted appearance at WrestleMania 31, which ended up being the segment with she and The Rock that we saw earlier this month. WWE booked that segment with full intentions of securing Rousey for a future appearance as well.

WWE shot the Rousey-McMahon angle at WrestleMania 31 in a way that leads to a match between the two, if, of course, the company is able to convince the UFC to let Rousey work a full pro wrestling match.

WWE is under the belief, for obvious reasons, that Rousey armbarring McMahon is the “money shot” in the program, so the company opted to save that spot, keeping it out of their WrestleMania 31 angle in the hopes that they can book the Rousey-McMahon match and use the armbar as the finish of the bout.

UPDATE x 2: When WWE filmed a backstage promo segment between The Rock and Triple H at last year’s anniversary edition of SmackDown, it was done with the understanding that it would lead to an eventual Rock vs. HHH match at WrestleMania.

Originally, the plan was for Rock vs. HHH to be one of the special attraction main event matches at WrestleMania 31 this year. However, when Rock’s movie schedule became an issue in Rock doing an actual match, the idea was changed to HHH vs. Sting, with HHH going over in the match and re-setting the stage for a Rock-HHH showdown, a match that is still expected to take place.

As things stand now, WWE is still hoping to book Rock vs. HHH for WrestleMania 32 next year, however it’s dependent upon a number of factors, most of which revolve around Rock’s non-WWE ventures.

As noted yesterday (see below), WWE is also looking to have a Ronda Rousey vs. Stephanie McMahon singles match at WrestleMania 32.

UPDATE: As we previously reported, WWE is pushing for a Ronda Rousey vs Stephanie McMahon match for Wrestlemania 32. While a mixed tag match with Triple H and The Rock has been discussed (as well as putting Stephanie and Rousey in their corners for a singles match), Stephanie vs. Rousey is the match WWE wants the most.

In an update on this, there is currently no deal set for Rousey vs. McMahon, but there is an “understanding” between the WWE and Rousey that it’ll happen. It all depends on if the UFC will sign off on the fight or not, as they have to give permission due to Rousey being under contract.

ORIGINAL: According to sources, WWE wants to use the Ronda Rousey angle from WrestleMania 31 to build to a singles match with Stephanie McMahon next year at WrestleMania 32. There had been speculation that WWE might do a mixed tag team match (Rock/Rousey vs. HHH/Stephanie) or put Rousey and Stephanie McMahon in Triple H and The Rock’s corners for a singles match between the two men, but WWE is currently pushing for the Rousey/Stephanie singles match as they feel that is the match that would draw the most.

The company has wanted this match since last year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. Previous reports had suggested that WWE was trying to bring in Rousey for some sort of appearance last year but that it had been nixed for various reasons. The match would obviously be very likely to see Rousey get the win.

Dana White will of course need to give approval for any match involving Rousey and while WWE wants the match to happen, there are some serious hurdles they would need to clear in order to have it happen.

We’ll keep you posted as we hear more.

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