WWE SummerSlam 2018: Who is Ronda Rousey wrestling?

Ronda Rousey will be taking on Alexa Bliss (Champion) for the RAW Women’s Championship at WWE Summerslam 2018 with Trish Stratus’ return looming.

Yes, Ronda Rousey will face Alexa Bliss for the RAW Women’s Championship tonight at WWE Summerslam 2018 but has the WWE already telegraphed a Bliss win with a key announcement? WWE announced Trish Stratus would be returning at an upcoming Women’s Wrestling PPV, WWE Evolution in a match against Alexa Bliss. WWE names Bliss as the RAW Women’s Champion which she obviously still is and does reference her match with Rousey being for the title tonight.

However, it seems a bit strange they would announce a potential non-champion to face off against Trish rather than leave it up in the air so early. One would think they’d put Bliss/Rousey vs. Trish in order to avoid subliminal messaging that Bliss will take a win at Summerslam tonight.

If Bliss does indeed take a victory tonight, it would likely not be a clean victory as to not deter Rousey’s status as a UFC badass. A loss this early would bring back the memories of her final two battles in the UFC’s Octagon and only serve to lower her potential for revenue. On the other hand, WWE broke Asuka’s streak quite unceremoniously, without much fanfare, and has had Brock Lesnar lose a bout before.

https://twitter.com/AlexaBliss_WWE/status/1031003146821267456

Would they take the risk and would Rousey even accept a job to Bliss at this stage? Most recently Brock only really took a true loss from Goldberg, who was a real-life friend and had the reputation of carrying an entire company prior in WCW. Goldberg’s spear and overall stature was also believable to take Brock.

Bliss is one of the best heels in the industry today but she will have to play a more technical Bret Hart style game (take out legs, Russian leg-sweep) to make a possible defeat of Rousey look the part. Considering Rousey is advertised as “the baddest woman walking the planet,” similar to Mike Tyson back in the day.

Though fans are living the reality era of the WWE, it seems less likely, if Bliss does win, that she’ll do so cleanly. Meanwhile, if Rousey wins, it’ll hit ESPN’s Sports Center the following minute and social media will be ablaze with likely positivity. A loss recalling bad memories, a win keeping the brand’s stock high. Before the Trish Stratus announcement it seemed a Rousey victory was practically imminent, now it’s 50/00 and up in the air.