Fox Reportedly Want WWE Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey On SmackDown Live
SmackDown moves to Fox in October...
Fox are going to be giving WWE a lot of money over the next few years after acquiring the broadcast rights to SmackDown Live. It also looks like they've got a list of demands for Vince McMahon et al to carry out in return for all that money, with one of them moving Ronda Rousey from the red of Raw to the blue of SmackDown - that's according to Wrestling Inc, at least.
Here's what their report had to say: "Wrestling Inc. has learned that FOX wants to have Ronda Rousey on the SmackDown roster when SmackDown Live! moves to the network. FOX feels that Rousey's MMA background, popularity and credibility as an athlete will be a major selling point to promote the show."
Fox’s deal with WWE commences on 4 October 2019 with SmackDown Live moving to Friday nights. Any potential move for Ronda - or any other member of the Raw roster - would be significant due to the fact that WWE are going to be keeping the current exclusive rosters in place.
The move to make SmackDown more sports than entertainment is reportedly happening so Fox can keep their WWE programming in-line with the rest of their sports output. Fox also air NFL and MLB, and will be plugging a large UFC-shaped hole with SmackDown Live come the Autumn (UFC signed a five-year deal with ESPN that begins next year).
Rousey, of course, made her name in UFC, so the thinking behind making her the centrepiece of the new SmackDown Live is in the hope that some UFC fans see her kicking some arse and stick around.
Here's what their report had to say: "Wrestling Inc. has learned that FOX wants to have Ronda Rousey on the SmackDown roster when SmackDown Live! moves to the network. FOX feels that Rousey's MMA background, popularity and credibility as an athlete will be a major selling point to promote the show."
Fox’s deal with WWE commences on 4 October 2019 with SmackDown Live moving to Friday nights. Any potential move for Ronda - or any other member of the Raw roster - would be significant due to the fact that WWE are going to be keeping the current exclusive rosters in place.
The move to make SmackDown more sports than entertainment is reportedly happening so Fox can keep their WWE programming in-line with the rest of their sports output. Fox also air NFL and MLB, and will be plugging a large UFC-shaped hole with SmackDown Live come the Autumn (UFC signed a five-year deal with ESPN that begins next year).
Rousey, of course, made her name in UFC, so the thinking behind making her the centrepiece of the new SmackDown Live is in the hope that some UFC fans see her kicking some arse and stick around.
Written by Ross Tweddell
Written and video journalist for Cultaholic Wrestling | twitter: @rossonrasslin | instagram: @rossonrasslin
