The WrestleMania 39 card is quickly taking shape, with many of the show’s title matches already in place.
One top star who isn’t yet officially scheduled for a WrestleMania match is Ronda Rousey. Though Rousey was originally expected to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship at the blockbuster event, plans changed as became evident when she lost the title to a returning Charlotte Flair on the December 30th episode of SmackDown.
After winning the Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley challenged Flair to a championship match inside SoFi Stadium, leaving Rousey to pursue other alternatives to compete on the Grandest Stage of Them All. According to recent reports, Rousey forced a change to the plans for WrestleMania as she wanted to pursue the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside real-life friend Shayna Baszler.
While it appeared that Baszler and Rousey would be heading for a clash with Damage CTRL, another wrinkle in the WrestleMania plans came on the February 27th episode of Raw, when Trish Stratus helped Becky Lynch and Lita defeat Damage CTRL to become the new champions. The title change marked Lita’s first title win in 17 years.
Ronda Rousey Will Compete At WrestleMania 39 Despite Not Being 100% Healed
On March 6th, the trio of Lita, Becky Lynch, and Trish Stratus challenged all three members of Damage CTRL to a trios match at WrestleMania 39, leaving questions about plans for Rousey and Baszler, especially as Rousey is dealing with a legitimate arm injury.
However, according to Dave Meltzer on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, both the trios match and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match are expected to take place over the two nights of WrestleMania.
“They still have a tag title match. There’s gonna be two matches coming out of this program. Whoever are the champions will wrestle Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, but they’re also doing the six-woman tag.”
When Meltzer confirmed that he was reporting the tag team match despite it not having been announced, he continued, noting that he didn’t know who would be tag team champions going into WrestleMania but that Rousey and Baszler facing the champions was the plan. He also noted that Rousey isn’t expected to be 100% healed, but that she is expected to be able to wrestle at the event.
“I don’t know if Dakota and SKY are going to win the belts back or if it will be Lita and Becky Lynch, but Rousey and Baszler are still getting the tag team title shot as has been planned all along and likely winning them. Unless Rousey’s injury doesn’t heal. Which they are, right now, of the impression that she’s not gonna be 100% healed, but the impression is that she would be ready to do the match.”
h/t WrestlingNews.co