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Ronda Rousey has not been seen in a WWE ring for over a year now, with her last appearance coming at WrestleMania 35. She was a part of the first-ever women's main event in 'Mania history, along with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.
There have always been some rumblings surrounding Rousey's return to the ring, particularly at Survivor Series and Royal Rumble. But now, as WWE enters a tunnel of uncertainty, the 'Baddest Woman on the Planet' may have planted the seeds for her big return.
Over the past couple of days, Ronda Rousey has turned up her heel heat by making some unflattering comments about the WWE fans, as well as referring to pro wrestling as "fake fights for fun".
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This sparked mass outrage from the WWE Universe, probably along with some backstage heat. But maybe this is all a work, and Rousey returns to WWE as a super-villain.
The former RAW Women's Champion also stated that she is not going to return full-time. There is still a bunch of intriguing match-ups she could have, however long her next WWE run is.
Here are five matches Ronda Rousey could have if she returns to WWE.
#5 vs. Rhea Ripley
Over the past six months or so, Rhea Ripley has been one of the fastest rising stars in NXT. She led her team (of two) to a War Games victory, before defeating Shayna Baszler to win the NXT Women's Championship.
And while she lost the title to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, the 'Nightmare' still has a bright future. Ronda Rousey is also a fan of hers. The former RAW Women's Champion revealed on WWE's After The Bell podcast, that she would love to get in the ring with Ripley.
This would be an incredibly physical match, as both women are capable of high-intensity brawls in the ring. Rhea Ripley could certainly give the 'Baddest Woman on the Planet' a run for her money.
#4 vs. Asuka
When Ronda Rousey first debuted in WWE following the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match, one Superstar had a particularly interesting reaction. Annoyed at Rousey crashing her Rumble victory celebrations, Asuka rejected a congratulatory handshake from her with palpable tension.
At the time, it seemed like a clash between the two titans was inevitable. Asuka was still undefeated in WWE back then, making a potential showdown with Rousey one of the biggest dream matches that the former UFC star could have in WWE.
However, the Empress was moved to SmackDown and did not get a chance to face Rousey. This remains one of the matches that the WWE Universe wishes she had during her year-long run in the company. Asuka has lost a fair amount of times to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch among others, but her aura just about remains intact.
She, along with Kairi Sane, lost the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania, meaning a singles run could be on the horizon for the record-breaking former NXT Women's Champion. The match between the two would be a spectacle, just two high-caliber athletes beating the heck out of each other.
#3 vs. Shayna Baszler
It isn't uncommon when best friends go at it in a WWE ring, meaning this could be a real possibility. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler make up one half of the Four Horsewomen of MMA, meaning there could be a great potential story to tell for a match between the two of them.
Both Rousey and Baszler enjoyed dominant spells as the Champions of RAW and NXT respectively, but the latter has lost a bit of momentum since moving to the Red brand. If these two were to face off, it would almost certainly turn the Queen of Spades into a permanent player in WWE.
This could possibly even be Ronda Rousey's last match in WWE, putting Shayna Baszler over on her way out. The biggest professional gift she could give to her best friend is a submission victory on a big stage.
The match would be brutal, as one would expect from two former UFC fighters. And the fact that Rousey and Baszler are best friends means that they might go the extra mile to make this match great.
#2 Four Horsewomen of MMA vs. Four Horsewomen of WWE
What's better than fighting against your badass best friend? Fighting alongside your badass best friend, of course!
As previously mentioned, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler are part of the Four Horsewomen of MMA, along with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. It is no secret that there has been a persistent issue between them and the Four Horsewomen of WWE.
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Sasha Banks are among the biggest stars in WWE, and any match pitting the four of them against their MMA counterparts would be one of the biggest women's matches in WWE history.
This eight-woman encounter was first teased during the Mae Young Classic in 2017 and the feuds that Rousey and Baszler have had with each of them have only added layers to this wonderfully budding feud. There is a lot of bad blood and unfinished business there.
This match will surely happen, we just don't know when will be the right time. Aside from Ronda Rousey's return, we'll need Duke and Shafir to be ready for a high-profile spot, as well as Becky, Charlotte, Bayley, and Sasha coming on the same page. It may take a while.
#1 vs. Becky Lynch
Well, obviously.
This is the biggest WWE match that is yet to happen since they began building to it during the fall of 2018. Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch have had the most personal feud not to feature a one-on-one match.
The two were set to face each other at Survivor Series before Nia Jax broke Becky's nose. This eventually led to a Royal Rumble victory for The Man, who challenged Rousey to a RAW Women's Title match at WrestleMania.
As we all know, Charlotte Flair entered herself into the feud and headlined the Show of Shows along with the two of them. That match saw Becky Lynch pin Ronda Rousey to win the RAW and SmackDown Women's Championships, even though Rousey's shoulder was off the mat.
Even without the fact that they never faced each other one-on-one, that controversial finish effectively confirms Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey as a match that will happen, if the latter does return to WWE.
The two have cut some scathing promos on each other, hitting on reality a bit too much. It may be possible that they actually don't like each other. Either way, it makes for a fascinating story and compelling TV.
After over a year as the champ, The Man could be dethroned by the Baddest Woman on the Planet herself.
