Unpopular Opinion: Ronda Rousey should retire after WrestleMania 35
Most fans agree that Ronda Rousey made a strong transition to professional wrestling, particularly from an in-ring perspective. She’s crisp in her offense, can sell better than many expected, and already looks better in the ring than stars of the past generation, or universally panned contemporary talents like Nia Jax and Tamina.
However, Rousey hasn’t been consistently great on the mic, at first looking a little too dopily just happy to be in the WWE family, and then inconsistent in her ability to both play face and sell intensity as a sports entertainer.
Worse yet, there’s the matter of Rousey blocking off the Raw Women’s Championship. WWE finds itself in the awkward position in which no one can be booked to credibly beat her, making it harder and harder to construct at all credible PPV match scenarios and title defense for her. Sure, Becky Lynch is over enough to book against her and there’s always some entertainment value in Stephanie McMahon getting her butt kicked by the baddest woman on the planet. Maybe we could get a dream match between Rousey and a star from yesteryear like Trish Stratus, but even then, we’re stretching things pretty thin.
While WWE still could play with Rousey as a Brock Lesnar-like monster heel, or teaming up with her Four Horsewomen of MMA compatriots, for now, it looks like she has a limited shelf life before wrestling fans more fully turn on her. The best option? See her through WrestleMania 35 and a rumored match with Becky Lynch or special guest Cris Cyborg, then send her on her way. Rousey could still come back as a guest performer here and there, but it feels like it’s in the best interests of everyone involved for her not to hang around as a full-time member of the main roster past this spring.