There is a note on Charlotte Flair in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter in regard to plans for her match at WrestleMania.
As previously noted, the current plan is for Flair to wrestle Rhea Ripley for the NXT Championship at Mania. PWInsider reported that Flair was in Orlando and was scheduled to appear on last week’s NXT. Those plans were apparently delayed. Meanwhile, Ripley stated on Twitter that she would love to step into the ring with Flair and Rousey Rousey at Mania.
Meltzer noted in the Observer that WWE sees Flair as the company’s second biggest star and highest paid, with Lynch, if you exclude Rousey since she is not full-time.
Meltzer noted that WWE has wanted to make Flair vs. Rousey in a singles match at WrestleMania and that was the original plan for 2019 until Lynch got over as a big-time babyface after her nose was broken and bloodied by Nia Jax.
Despite the tease from Ripley last week on Twitter, Meltzer says he was told that Rousey will not be wrestling this year at Mania. As of now, the top women’s matches for Mania are Shayna Baszler challenging Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship and Flair challenging Ripley for the NXT Championship. There is no word yet on the plans for Bayley and the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Bayley just started a feud with Naomi last Friday night on SmackDown.
If WWE still wants Flair vs. Rousey, it looks like they will need to wait until next year. Rousey’s WWE contract is set to expire next year.
There is also news on a major name in talks to return for this year’s WrestleMania in Tampa. Click here for more on that story.
