Former UFC champ Ronda Rousey returned at this year's Royal Rumble. Making a massive impact, and completely shaking up the women’s division. She last eliminated Charlotte Flair to book her place in the championship match for Mania and now it’s time to look at the bigger picture. She’s arguably the biggest female combat sports star ever, putting the UFC’s women’s division in the minds of most sports fans remotely interested in MMA.

When she debuted for the WWE in 2018 she made a huge splash competing in what most consider to be the best debut match in WWE history. On top of all of that she was one of three women's wrestlers to compete in the historic first women’s WrestleMania main event in 2019. She’s box office and nobody can say otherwise. With the women’s division slowly diminishing over the past year and getting less main event spotlight, Rousey’s influence on the mainstream can only be useful.

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Ronda Rousey: The Biggest Women's Star In WWE History

WWE’s women’s division has come a long way since bra and panties matches and harmful portrayals. It’s now at the forefront of the women’s professional wrestling landscape with major stars like the Four Horsewomen, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. Female professional wrestlers within WWE are seen as viable main eventers. That being said it’s beginning to plateau. Shorter matches are seen on TV, nonsensical angles are beginning to reappear, the women still with some star power are being shoved to the back of the line once again. Enter Ronda Rousey. It’s a perfect time for her to re-enter the women’s division back into the mainstream while all eyes are on it. An opportunity has appeared in the shape of a former women’s champion and all round athlete.

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Brock Lesnar has been proof over the past year that mainstream, legitimate combat stars can be unbelievably useful in the main event. Getting more eyes on the product and the overall title picture. Rousey’s case is no different, and while at the end of her last run fan opinion was less than positive, she’s back and seems to be a bigger star than ever. Plus, how can we miss you if you won’t go away? She went away, came back triumphantly.

With Rousey back and in the title picture for Mania it’s a great time to get the ball rolling.As fans saw on WWE SmackDown, Rousey has chosen Charlotte Flair as her opponent for WrestleMania 38. This means a titanic clash with Charlotte Flair for her title and a rematch of their classic at Survivor Series 2018. This will also make Ronda's return against arguably the best in-ring women's wrestler on the planet. Some would argue that Charlotte doesn’t need this match, but it’s another chapter in an already Hall of Fame-worthy career for the Queen. Meaning all those who are in the ring with her in the future are instantly elevated.

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Ronda Rousey's Star Prescene Should Rub Off On WWE's Roster

Like the men’s roster WWE really needs to build to the future. Stars need to be nurtured now so that they can be main event talent in the upcoming years. With Ronda entering herself back into the fold making stars may become a lot easier. While she may not be the most polished in the ring, she brings big fight feel to a division that’s really lacking in momentum at the moment. If WWE were to harness that and use it to elevate talent then it can only be a positive. For example, Bianca Belair could face Ronda and dethrone a former UFC World Champion. This would massively elevate her and re-establish her as the young star leading the way for the next generation of women. Then when it comes time for a WrestleMania match between Becky Lynch and Ronda for example, Bianca could face Becky down the line and get her win back from Summerslam 2021. She’s elevated into the spotlight with two main event feuds but is doubly elevated by the fact that she could defeat someone who’s beaten Ronda in the past.

Ronda Rousey. Inaugural UFC Bantamweight Champion. Olympic bronze medalist in Judo. Former WWE Women’s champion. Now the springboard for the second wind of the women’s revolution. Her booking, match types and opponents will play a major factor in the future of women’s representation on WWE television. While she may not be the most popular person in the wrestling community for issues away from the ring, she’s needed. Her involvement is a must. For her star power, mainstream crossover appeal and aura alone. WWE needs to take advantage of this sooner rather than later to connect with lapsed fans and a broader demographic of their audience. If they do casual fans, wrestling diehards, fans of the women’s division in general will become the real winners.