Ronda Rousey’s Current WWE Royal Rumble Status

Ronda Rousey hasn’t wrestled on WWE television since losing the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship to a returning Charlotte Flair on December 30th. The 41-second squash terminated Rousey’s third title reign 83 days after she won the SmackDown Women’s Title from Liv Morgan at Extreme Rules in October. With the Royal Rumble coming up, fans are wondering if she will use the event as an opportunity to return again.

Ronda Rousey made her return in the 2022 Royal Rumble, entering the match at number 28 and eventually becoming the fifth Women’s Rumble winner. However, it now appears that her participation in the 2023 Royal Rumble, which takes place tonight, is still up in the air.

According to a report behind Fightful’s Paywall, Ronda Rousey has not been expected to compete in the Royal Rumble since she lost her title in December. Her name was recently pitched, but many in creative the outlet talked with assumed she wasn’t coming in at the time.

Ronda Rousey hasn’t been expected for the Royal Rumble since she lost her title back in December, Fightful Select was told. Her name may have been pitched recently, but those in creative we spoke to have been operating on the assumption that she wasn’t coming in as of back then.

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We previously reported that Ronda Rousey has been advertised for the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. However, despite appearing on some initial graphics for the event, Ronda Rousey was not originally scheduled to participate in the Royal Rumble.

Ronda Rousey’s SmackDown Women’s Title match against Raquel Rodriguez was meant to take place a month later, at the Royal Rumble event. WWE changed their minds about when Rousey would drop her title. It was also noted that “several WWE plans have changed as a result of this, in relation to it.” Apparently, Charlotte Flair was “tentatively scheduled” on a “suggested matches list” to face Bianca Belair for the RAW Women’s Title. Rhea Ripley was supposed to take on Ronda Rousey, “but that’s when Rousey was still Champion.”

WWE’s plans for Rousey in the near future look hazy. The crossover star hasn’t appeared on WWE television since her loss to Flair, and many storylines given to her by the company, including prospective WrestleMania 39 matches with opponents like Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley, have reportedly fallen through. Let’s wait and see what happens tonight. Keep an eye on Ringside for the latest updates.

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