Throwback: Ronda Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship reign

Throwback: Ronda Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship reign

Rousey

Ronda Rousey is one of the most dominant superstars in the world of professional wrestling. Additionally, she is also a former judoka and a former mixed martial artist. Known for her time in UFC and WWE, Rousey was last seen on WWE at Wrestlemania 35. While we all await her return to the squared ring, we take a look back at Rousey’s dominant WWE reign as a Champion.

At the 2018 Royal Rumble, Ronda Rousey made a surprise appearance. She confronted the then Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and the Rumble winner Asuka. But she made her in-ring debut for the company at Wrestlemania 34. She teamed up with Kurt Angle for a mixed Tag Team match against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

As expected, Rousey’s debut received massive praise, not only from the fans, but from wrestling critics alike. She got her first shot at the title against the then Raw Women’s Champion Nia Jax. She did win the match but failed to win the title, due to a disqualification caused by Alexa Bliss’ interference.

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Rousey kicked off her first feud against Alexa Bliss, who had successfully cashed in her Money in the Bank contract, to win the Raw Women’s Championship. During the feud, Rousey was suspended from the company too and later returned to squash Bliss at Summerslam and win her first title in WWE.  The two Superstars even battled in a rematch at Hell in a Cell, but Rousey dominance continued.

Ronda Rousey’s Championship reign

ronda rousey
Rousey and Bliss

Ronda Rousey was a fighting Raw Women’s Champion who never shied away from any challenge. She successfully defended her title against Nikki Bella in the main event of the first all women’s pay-per-view Evolution. She also had successful title defenses against the likes of Mickie James, Nia Jax, Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley.

The biggest match of Rousey’s WWE career came at Wrestlemania 35 – a Winner takes all triple threat match. Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Rousey competed for the Raw as well as the Smackdown Women’s title. Interestingly, it was the first ever women’s main event match. Rousey suffered her first loss in WWE, after being controversially pinned by Becky Lynch. This also marked the end of her 231 day reign as the Champion.  

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