Big Match Booked For WrestleMania 34
Ronda Rousey's on the card - but who's joining her?
Ronda Rousey's WrestleMania 34 match was confirmed tonight on Monday Night Raw, in an incident-filled opening segment featuring the former UFC star, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon.
Angle opened the show and called out Triple H, only to be met by Stephanie, who attempted to put him in his place. Rousey arrived and was granted a choice of WrestleMania opponent by Stephanie, who found herself to be the new signing's preferred opponent.
Triple H entered to back up his wife, but Angle explained that while Stephanie isn't an active roster member, her talent contract allows for matches to be made. He then noted that Triple H was also subject to the same rules, and booked a mixed tag bout for WrestleMania.
That match will pit the team of Rousey and Angle against Triple H and Stephanie, one of a few possibilities that have been speculated on in prior weeks. Another major name rumoured for the position of Rousey's partner was The Rock, but there were doubts over his availability due to Hollywood commitments.
Angle does make sense as Rousey's partner from a certain standpoint. Both were signed to WWE after huge success in other sports - Kurt being a gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler, and Rousey being a pioneer in women's mixed martial arts.
Rousey is also an Olympian in her own right, competing in judo at both Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. She won a bronze medal at the latter Games, at the age of just 21.
Although several other matches have been partially revealed for WrestleMania - such as Shinsuke Nakamura's shot at the WWE Championship - the mixed tag bout is only the second where all participants have been confirmed. The other sees Brock Lesnar defend his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns.
Angle opened the show and called out Triple H, only to be met by Stephanie, who attempted to put him in his place. Rousey arrived and was granted a choice of WrestleMania opponent by Stephanie, who found herself to be the new signing's preferred opponent.
Triple H entered to back up his wife, but Angle explained that while Stephanie isn't an active roster member, her talent contract allows for matches to be made. He then noted that Triple H was also subject to the same rules, and booked a mixed tag bout for WrestleMania.
That match will pit the team of Rousey and Angle against Triple H and Stephanie, one of a few possibilities that have been speculated on in prior weeks. Another major name rumoured for the position of Rousey's partner was The Rock, but there were doubts over his availability due to Hollywood commitments.
Angle does make sense as Rousey's partner from a certain standpoint. Both were signed to WWE after huge success in other sports - Kurt being a gold medal-winning Olympic wrestler, and Rousey being a pioneer in women's mixed martial arts.
Rousey is also an Olympian in her own right, competing in judo at both Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. She won a bronze medal at the latter Games, at the age of just 21.
Although several other matches have been partially revealed for WrestleMania - such as Shinsuke Nakamura's shot at the WWE Championship - the mixed tag bout is only the second where all participants have been confirmed. The other sees Brock Lesnar defend his Universal Championship against Roman Reigns.
Written by Jack King
jack.king@cultaholic.com Twitter: @JackTheJobber
