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WWE made a savvy business decision when Ronda Rousey defeated Alexa Bliss to become the Raw Women's Champion at SummerSlam, but the toughest part of Rousey's journey still lies ahead.
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Of course, it was a no-brainer for Rousey to win the WWE in road to Evolution. As she proved in UFC, Rousey is a massive draw who is a member of the company. Thus, there is little doubt that Rousey's match with Bliss played a significant role in the success of SummerSlam 2018 or that she mixed her tag team match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 34 contributed to WWE reaching its highest subscriber count ever for the WWE Network.
Rousey is the definition of a must-see attraction, and as Raw Women's Champion, she will be able to see the world. Her title win, however, has also created a massive problem for women's division, which is similar to the outcome of Brock Lesnar's 500-day title reign half.
What made WWE keep Lesnar was the company viewed a "transcendent star" who attracted fans from all walks of life, but what made "The Beast" transcend was his invincibility and dominance. The same is true of Rousey, and that could present a major problem for WWE. Maybe not now or next month. But down the road? Absolutely.
Lesnar, of course, has several years running roughshod through the competition on the main roster. He was easily able to walk through the streets of the world. John Cena, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, The Undertaker and Braun Strowman. The way Lesnar dismantled anyone who got in their way to the accomplished goal of establishing Lesnar as an unstoppable monster, but it came along with the unfortunate side effect of eventually transforming Lesnar into WWE's most unlikable star. It was not traditional heel heat, It was "Why is this guy still here?" furor and rage from aggravated fans.
Now, Lesnar is no longer a champion and is gone from WWE, and Rousey said on the post-SummerSlam edition of Raw that she's "not Brock Lesnar." No, she is not. But she may eventually be.
Although Rousey appears to have a passion for pro wrestling that Lesnar never did, she is going to be pushed just as strongly as possible.
We had a set timeline set, and we are not so sure about it because I love it so much. I guess that's the best thing I could have done, so I would love it so much it would be so hard to stop. I can see why people have a hard time leaving this industry because it is such a joy to be a part of every day.
Rousey is working under a "full-time deal" as part of a multi-year contract that seemsingly will keep in check at least until WrestleMania 36 in 2020. That explains why Reigns vs.. Charlotte Flair has been here for the first time. WrestleMania 35 next year and why reports exactly what will happen. That also explains why Rousey is already in the world of women's hockey and women's world. WWE is taking a page out of the Brock Lesnar playbook by Rousey.
Much like Lesnar ran through the likes of Cena, Orton and Strowman, Rousey has been presented as someone who has no equal on Raw. She was in the road to defeating Nia Jax at Extreme Rules, absolutely demolished Alicia Fox in her lone Raw match, made a mockery out of Bliss at SummerSlam and had decimated Stephanie McMahon on more than occasion. She's just tapped out Mickie James on this week's Raw. Is that smart booking? Of course it is because WWE should be portraying Rousey as a Lesnar-like monster who can not be beaten.
But as demonstrated by Lesnar himself, there is a fine line between pushing someone strongly and pushing them too strongly.
Thus, WWE will find itself toeing that paper-thin balance between utilizing Rousey's unique skill set and unparalleled drawing power to make the new face of the women's division and pushing her so much . It took years to get to Lesnar, but in the road to his SummerSlam loss to Reigns, fans had grown sick and tired of seeing him be highlighted at the expense of virtually everyone else.
With the way Rousey has already dominated Fox, Bliss and McMahon (WWE needs to be taken care of) .
Because even though Rousey says she is not Lesnar, the creative team may ultimately change that.
Blake Oestriecher is an elementary school teacher by day and a sports writer by night. He's a contributor to @ForbesSportswhere he mainly covers WWE. You can follow him on Twitter @BOestriecher.
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WWE made a savvy business decision when Ronda Rousey defeated Alexa Bliss to become the Raw Women's Champion at SummerSlam, but the toughest part of Rousey's journey still lies ahead.
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Of course, it was a no-brainer for Rousey to win the WWE in road to Evolution. As she proved in UFC, Rousey is a massive draw who is a member of the company. Thus, there is little doubt that Rousey's match with Bliss played a significant role in the success of SummerSlam 2018 or that she mixed her tag team match with Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 34 contributed to WWE reaching its highest subscriber count ever for the WWE Network.
Rousey is the definition of a must-see attraction, and as Raw Women's Champion, she will be able to see the world. Her title win, however, has also created a massive problem for women's division, which is similar to the outcome of Brock Lesnar's 500-day title reign half.
What made WWE keep Lesnar was the company viewed a "transcendent star" who attracted fans from all walks of life, but what made "The Beast" transcend was his invincibility and dominance. The same is true of Rousey, and that could present a major problem for WWE. Maybe not now or next month. But down the road? Absolutely.
Lesnar, of course, has several years running roughshod through the competition on the main roster. He was easily able to walk through the streets of the world. John Cena, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton, The Undertaker and Braun Strowman. The way Lesnar dismantled anyone who got in their way to the accomplished goal of establishing Lesnar as an unstoppable monster, but it came along with the unfortunate side effect of eventually transforming Lesnar into WWE's most unlikable star. It was not traditional heel heat, It was "Why is this guy still here?" furor and rage from aggravated fans.
Now, Lesnar is no longer a champion and is gone from WWE, and Rousey said on the post-SummerSlam edition of Raw that she's "not Brock Lesnar." No, she is not. But she may eventually be.
Although Rousey appears to have a passion for pro wrestling that Lesnar never did, she is going to be pushed just as strongly as possible.
We had a set timeline set, and we are not so sure about it because I love it so much. I guess that's the best thing I could have done, so I would love it so much it would be so hard to stop. I can see why people have a hard time leaving this industry because it is such a joy to be a part of every day.
Rousey is working under a "full-time deal" as part of a multi-year contract that seemsingly will keep in check at least until WrestleMania 36 in 2020. That explains why Reigns vs.. Charlotte Flair has been here for the first time. WrestleMania 35 next year and why reports exactly what will happen. That also explains why Rousey is already in the world of women's hockey and women's world. WWE is taking a page out of the Brock Lesnar playbook by Rousey.
Much like Lesnar ran through the likes of Cena, Orton and Strowman, Rousey has been presented as someone who has no equal on Raw. She was in the road to defeating Nia Jax at Extreme Rules, absolutely demolished Alicia Fox in her lone Raw match, made a mockery out of Bliss at SummerSlam and had decimated Stephanie McMahon on more than occasion. She's just tapped out Mickie James on this week's Raw. Is that smart booking? Of course it is because WWE should be portraying Rousey as a Lesnar-like monster who can not be beaten.
But as demonstrated by Lesnar himself, there is a fine line between pushing someone strongly and pushing them too strongly.
Thus, WWE will find itself toeing that paper-thin balance between utilizing Rousey's unique skill set and unparalleled drawing power to make the new face of the women's division and pushing her so much . It took years to get to Lesnar, but in the road to his SummerSlam loss to Reigns, fans had grown sick and tired of seeing him be highlighted at the expense of virtually everyone else.
With the way Rousey has already dominated Fox, Bliss and McMahon (WWE needs to be taken care of) .
Because even though Rousey says she is not Lesnar, the creative team may ultimately change that.
Blake Oestriecher is an elementary school teacher by day and a sports writer by night. He's a contributor to @ForbesSportswhere he mainly covers WWE. You can follow him on Twitter @BOestriecher.
