WWE Reportedly Planning Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38

The return of Ronda Rousey to WWE is one of the big topics going into the Royal Rumble tonight and now there’s a report that Ronda’s WrestleMania 38 opponent is expected to be Charlotte Flair.

It was reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that the angle between Flair and Rousey could begin as soon as tonight’s Royal Rumble premium live event.

Flair, who is the Smackdown Women’s Champion, is also in the Royal Rumble match tonight, so there’s a possibility that the two women could cross paths again if Rousey makes her return during that match.

It was noted by Meltzer that Rousey is back for a “substantial run” in WWE that is expected to be longer than just this year’s Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 38 event in Dallas, Texas on April 2nd and April 3rd. Rousey’s entourage was already in St. Louis (site of the Royal Rumble) yesterday and there has been talk of Rousey appearing on Monday’s Raw as well.

Rousey is expected to be part of the Smackdown brand moving forward although Meltzer that she may appear on Raw sometimes to try to boost ratings. Rousey’s new WWE deal is in excess of one year with Rousey expected to be on Smackdown to appease Fox, who wanted Rousey and Brock Lesnar to be regulars on Smackdown. Rousey’s new deal includes major matches at both this year’s WrestleMania 38 event and next year’s WrestleMania 39 event at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (Los Angeles), California.

Meltzer went on to note that while Rouse facing Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch also made sense as a WrestleMania, the decision was made to put Rousey on Smackdown. That also means that Rousey vs. Lynch is a possibility for WrestleMania 39 next year.

If Rousey vs. Flair does happen at WrestleMania 38 in April then it would be their second singles match against eachother. Their last match was at Survivor Series 2018 with Rousey picking up the win after Flair was disqualified.

At WrestleMania 35 in 2019, Rousey and Flair were part of the triple threat match main event that saw Becky Lynch leave with both the Raw and Women’s Smackdown Women’s Title. That was Rousey’s last match in WWE until tonight.

You can watch WWE Royal Rumble streaming LIVE on Saturday, January 29 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on WWE Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else.