It seems, at least to this writer, that part of the reason we currently have a Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey main event set for WrestleMania 35, and will eventually have a Flair/Rousey/Becky Lynch Triple Threat at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on April 7, is because the company doesn’t want to turn Rousey heel.
“Corporate Ronda” eliminates the need for Charlotte to be involved in the feud, and frees her up to go after Asuka and the SmackDown Women’s title. Instead, she’s been added to the Raw championship bout as Vince McMahon’s evil proxy and... you know. We’ve all seen it before.
Anyway, to remind us that Rowdy and The Man may hate each other’s guts but we’re supposed to like them both (or, for many of us, we do like the latter and are supposed to like the former), after Raw went off the air on Mon., Feb. 11 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Riott Squad rolled to the ring. This also reminds us that Rousey will face Ruby Riott on Sunday at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view (PPV), something the WrestleMania-focused closing segment failed to do on the ‘go home’ show for said PPV.
Ruby, understandably feeling overlooked, surrounds the ring with her stablemates Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan. They’re looking to make a statement, but instead get sent packing. But not before Morgan & Logan get armbars from Ronda & Becky.
Then there’s some jawing and posturing from the women who, just minutes before, thought they’d be fighting at the Showcase of the Immortals in a couple months.
Here’s WWE’s footage of the brawl:
Also worth noting? It’s Becky’s music which plays at the end.
After months and months of vitriol, will Rousey be an ally for Lynch in her efforts to get her Vince McMahon-imposed 60 Day suspension lifted so she can compete at ‘Mania?
We shall see. There are obviously some more twists and turns to go before we get to East Rutherford.