5 possible reasons why Ronda Rousey has been fast-tracked into The Raw Women's title storyline

It was announced earlier this week that Ronda Rousey will challenge for Nia Jax’s Raw Women’s Championship at the WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view in June.

The news came as a surprise to fans as the former UFC star has only been involved in one previous match – defeating Stephanie McMahon and Triple H alongside Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 34 – and she has repeatedly stated that she doesn’t want to be given any special treatment early on in her WWE career.

From a storyline perspective, Ronda isn’t getting any special treatment, as it was Nia who issued the challenge to the MMA icon. However, from a fans’ perspective, she hasn’t done enough to warrant being handed a title opportunity and some are questioning why WWE has decided to fast-track her into the title picture so soon.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five possible reasons why Ronda has been put in this position just six weeks after her debut.

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#5 She needed a match at Money In The Bank

Ronda Rousey hasn't competed since WrestleMania 34

If Ronda Rousey is going to be promoted as a full-time member of the Raw roster, she needs to at least be involved in matches at WWE’s ‘Big Five’ pay-per-view events (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, Money In The Bank, SummerSlam and Survivor Series).

Considering she is still new to the sports entertainment/pro wrestling business, it’s probably a little too soon to throw Ronda into a multi-person ladder match, where she would struggle to stand out as much as she would in a singles match.

With a place in the ladder match out of the question, the only realistic way for Ronda to appear on the PPV card is if she challenges for the Raw Women’s Championship.

#4 Anything other than a title match would have been a demotion from WrestleMania

Ronda Rousey set the bar high following her interactions with Stephanie McMahon

WWE could easily have given Ronda Rousey a comfortable pay-per-view victory against the likes of Mickie James or Ruby Riott in her first singles match at Money In The Bank.

However, when you consider how high-profile her debut match was against Stephanie McMahon and Triple H at WrestleMania 34, it would have been a significant demotion for her to be involved in a non-title PPV rivalry with a mid-carder who she obviously would have defeated.

Fans can argue about whether Ronda should have been involved in a #1 contender match on Raw first, but there’s no denying that the only way her next PPV match can replicate the hype of WrestleMania is if it’s for the Raw Women’s Championship.

#3 Nia Jax was short of serious title contenders

Nia Jax defeated Alexa Bliss at Backlash

Looking at the rest of the Raw women’s division, is there anybody else but Ronda Rousey who could provide a serious threat to Nia Jax’s Raw Women’s Championship?

Alexa Bliss, Bayley and Sasha Banks have been involved in multiple matches and storylines with Nia over the last couple of years, with “The Irresistible Force” often emerging with the win, while Natalya, Mickie James and Ruby Riott have all lost PPV title matches in the last six months.

The only other realistic contender for the title is Ember Moon, but she is still finding her feet on the main roster and an immediate rivalry with Nia – the woman who introduced her to Raw – would make little sense.

#2 The alternative storyline wasn’t as good

A match with Nia Jax will be a lot more meaningful than a match with Mickie James

Since Ronda Rousey inflicted some more damage to Stephanie McMahon’s arm on the Raw after WrestleMania 34, we haven’t seen much of her on our screens.

Her only televised appearances over the last six weeks have been as a sidekick to Natalya, who she secretly trained with before joining WWE, in her battles with fellow veteran Mickie James.

With respect to Natalya and Mickie, it felt very underwhelming when Ronda – one of the most well-known female athletes on the planet – moved on from working with Stephanie and Triple H to get involved in a largely meaningless rivalry in back-to-back weeks on Raw.

Now that the Raw Women’s Championship match has been announced, Ronda can stop supporting Natalya and start focusing on her own match at Money In The Bank.

#1 Will Stephanie McMahon return and cost Ronda Rousey?

Stephanie McMahon required medical attention last time she saw Ronda Rousey

Stephanie McMahon was embarrassed by Ronda Rousey on consecutive shows in April (WrestleMania 34 and the Raw after ‘Mania) and the Raw Commissioner hasn’t been seen since.

While the current storyline appears to suggest that WWE has moved on from the Ronda vs. Stephanie feud, there’s definitely some unfinished business between the two women.

If WWE decides to reignite the rivalry, possibly leading to a one-on-one match further down the line, there would be no better way for Steph to get her own back than by costing her enemy in a high-stakes match for the Raw Women’s Championship.