Is Shotzi the Right Survivor Series Opponent for Ronda?
WWE Smackdown
Shotzi defeated Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Sonya Deville, Lacey Evans and Xia Li in a Six-Pack Challenge on Smackdown to become the challenger against Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series: War Games.
Is Shotzi the Right Survivor Series Opponent for Ronda?
Shotzi has a cool entrance with the TCB tank, so that will score some points with fans at Survivor Series, but that’s about where it ends.
Shotzi may be the perfect opponent for Ronda to obliterate, but is Shotzi the right opponent for Ronda to put “assess in seats” for a major PLE? This feels much more like a Friday night Smackdown opener than a Women’s Main Event caliber match at a major Premium Live Event. Casual fans most likely won’t even know who she is, regular fans don’t really care. Nobody thinks she even remotely has a chance against Ronda. If Shotzi had a storyline with Ronda or even Shayna, leading up to Survivor Series, I think having Shotzi as an opponent would make more sense.
Having a six-pack challenge 15 days before Survivor Series to decide an opponent just seems unprepared. As far as I know, Ronda doesn’t have any scheduling conflicts or injuries that would make this a last minute decision, which would be the only explainable reason for the procrastination. Without any build-up, this match is really just a space filler for the PLE and Shotzi an opponent for Ronda to dominate.
Shotzi is green and I’m not just talking about her hair. Shotzi having a botchless match should be worked on first before being added as a challenger for the Smackdown Women’s Championship at a major PLE. Her in ring work has come under fire earlier this year by fans and Shotzi deleted her Twitter over it. In a title match at a major PLE, one would expect a more seasoned and viable opponent.
Other Options to be Ronda’s Survivor Series Opponent
From the other participants in that Six-Pack Challenge match, there were much better options to be Ronda’s Survivor Series opponent.
As much as I like my fellow Jersey native Liv Morgan, I think we are all tired of Liv Morgan vs. Ronda Rousey and know that we need to move on. Liv’s storyline has moved on and with the Bray Wyatt speculation, and it doesn’t seem like Liv will be in the title picture any time soon.
Sonya Deville: A former mixed martial fighter herself, she would’ve made a great opponent for Ronda. If anybody in the Smackdown women’s division would be able to go toe to toe with Ronda, besides Shayna Baszler, it would be Sonya. After a hard fought battle, Sonya could’ve “let Ronda beat her” and joined Ronda in making a female faction of former MMA fighters.
Raquel Rodriguez: Arguably, the biggest, toughest woman in either of the main roster’s women’s division, she could have been a real test for Ronda. Raquel as Ronda’s opponent would have created a lot more buzz and interest for a major PLE. Raquel being a face, Ronda tapping her out, would have helped add a notch in the fan—resistant heel run WWE has been pushing with Ronda.
Lacey Evans: A former Marine, with extensive training and a fearful “Woman’s Right” punch, Lacey would have made a much more viable and interesting opponent for Ronda. WWE had built up Lacey so much with her weekly vignettes for her comeback, and since, just let her fade away. It’s time they started booking her more solidly.
Conclusion
My only hope is that WWE comes to it senses, and writes an “injury” for Shotzi from her upcoming Friday Night Smackdown match against Shayna Baszler and substitutes one of the opponents I mentioned above.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below!