WWE WrestleMania 39: Updated plans for Ronda Rousey’s championship match

Bengaluru, February 6: WWE didn't allow the fans to boo Ronda Rousey for no reason by removing her from television, immediately after dropping the Smackdown Women's Championship in the final TV taping of 2022.

On that eventful Smackdown on December 30, Ronda Rousey defeated Raquel Rodriguez to successfully defend the title but she was quickly interrupted by Charlotte Flair who returned to WWE programming after a gap of eight months.

The Queen eventually went on to defeat The Baddest Woman on the Planet in under two minutes to capture her 14th women's title and ensured that her long-term adversary gets sidelined for some time.

Following her Royal Rumble absence, there have been speculations about Rousey's WrestleMania status but new reports have emerged of WWE having 'locked in' plans for her match for the April PLE.

In a new report on Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that WWE already has a few confirmed matches on the WrestleMania 39 card featuring John Cena and Ronda Rousey.

While The Cenation Leader will collide with United States Champion Austin Theory, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion will go after the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships for the first time in her career alongside Shayna Baszler.

"For WrestleMania, the locked-in matches at this point are Reigns vs. Rhodes for the Universal title, Charlotte Flair vs. Ripley for the Smackdown women's title.

"Belair vs. the Chamber winner for the Raw women's title, John Cena vs. Austin Theory (no word on whether this will or won't be a U.S. title match), and Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler for the women's tag team titles."

IYO SKY and Dakota Kai are members of DAMAGE CTRL (with Bayley) who are currently enjoying their second reign with the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles. They defeated Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez to win the gold in September 2022.

With Kai in an injured state, they haven't defended the title in recent times. It appears that Ronda Rousey will probably switch brands following her WWE return to appear on Raw with Baszler to declare themselves as new challengers for the tag titles.

At one point, there were rumours that the former MMA performer was probably going to face Shayna Baszler, herself at WrestleMania 39. But Xero News turned down the probability of the matchup.

The previous report of a Ronda Rousey vs. Rhea Ripley match is also off the board given that the 2023 Women's Royal Rumble match winner has already chosen Charlotte Flair and her Smackdown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 39.