Projecting the Next Year for Ronda Rousey on Her 32nd Birthday

At only 32, Ronda Rousey has accomplished more than most between her decorated stint in the UFC and her career in WWE. Her transition from the Octagon to the squared circle has been seamless, and she has quickly proved herself to be one of WWE's top talents.

Lest fans forget, it was a little more than a year ago that Rousey arrived in WWE at 2018's Royal Rumble. She made an immediate impact by confronting Charlotte Flair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss and making it known that she had WrestleMania on her mind.

Despite receiving a mixed reaction from the fans in attendance at Elimination Chamber, Rousey proved to her detractors with her WrestleMania 34 performance against Triple H and Stephanie McMahon that she was a better fit for professional wrestling than anyone could have expected.

Rousey followed up her spectacular showing on the Grandest Stage of Them All by pushing Nia Jax to her limit at Money in the Bank before capturing the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam. She has held on to the gold and has remained undefeated in one-on-one action since then, with virtually no one posing a true threat to her dominance.

On Monday's Raw, it was confirmed that she will be defending her Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 35 against Becky Lynch, whom she has been at odds with for months. Based off what we've seen from them up to this point, they're destined to do battle in the main event of the spring spectacle.

It was recently reported that Rousey may be looking to leave shortly following 'Mania, but if anything, it would likely be a brief hiatus considering her contract doesn't expire until April 2021.

Credit: WWE.com

Regardless of how long she will be out post-WrestleMania (if at all), Rousey still has an extremely bright future in WWE, for she has barely scratched the surface of reaching her potential.

From annihilating the Raw's women's division to reigning as the Raw Women's champion for nearly six months, Rousey has arguably achieved everything imaginable during her time on the flagship show.

However, that isn't to say her popularity has peaked. In fact, only now is she beginning to find her footing both in the ring and on the mic.

Look no further than her work since Sunday, when she contested another instant classic with Sasha Banks at the Royal Rumble and then cut one of her best promos to date on Monday's Raw.

Monday was far from the first time that Rousey has been heavily booed by a WWE crowd, and it likely won't be the last, especially if she is feuding with someone as beloved as Becky Lynch.

Her rivalry with Lynch is easily the most compelling program she has been a part of and is bound to bring out the best in Rousey heading into WrestleMania. Regardless of whether she wins or loses at the Show of Shows, she is primed for another huge year in 2019.

Seeing as how she has faced—and beaten—every notable name in Raw's women's division, a move to SmackDown Live in the next Superstar Shake-up should be in the cards come April. That would give her a fresh batch of opponents to work with over the next year and beyond.

Credit: WWE.com

From a rematch with Charlotte Flair to a possible clash with Asuka, there are myriad exciting possibilities for Rousey on the blue brand. Moreover, a heel turn may not be completely out of the question, either, if the reactions she has been receiving lately have been any indication.

Post-WrestleMania, Rousey should set her sights on Charlotte over on SmackDown before transitioning into a storyline with SmackDown women's champion Asuka. It can be then that she flips the switch and becomes the despised loudmouth UFC fans loved to hate during her mixed martial arts career.

A pairing with Paul Heyman (with whom she has a history behind the scenes) could be beneficial to her long-term growth as a character. Depending on Brock Lesnar's contract situation in the latter half of 2019, Heyman can maintain a presence on programming by being partnered with Rousey and serve as her mouthpiece.

No matter what the future holds for her in WWE, she will continue to make the most of everything she's given. Still in her prime, Ronda Rousey has plenty of time to make an even bigger impact on the industry than she already has.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is an Endicott College alumnus and aspiring journalist. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.