Ronda Rousey will close out 2022 as the SmackDown Women’s Champion, and according to WrestlingNews.co, WWE already has plans for what she’ll do early next year. Rousey will reportedly defend her title against Raquel Rodriguez at the royal rumble in San Antonio. Her match for Wrestle Mania 39 was not confirmed, but the site noted that she plans to still be champion by then. One of the heavily rumored matches for Mania is Rousey vs. Becky Lynch, a match originally scheduled for Survivor Series 2018. But due to an ill-timed injury and booking changes, the two have never met one-on-one.

If you’ve been watching SmackDown lately, the Rousey vs. Rodriguez shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise considering that Rousey injured her with an armbar as part of preparing for her match with Shotzi at Survivor Series WarGames.

Lynch has hinted several times over the years that he would meet Rousey, even before Rousey came back from a hiatus at this year’s Royal Rumble. She said Out of characterr last October: “Yeah, and I really think it will (happen). The fact that I had a baby and came back so amazing that she probably wants to try and beat me and she will try to come back “In three months. Then I’ll be there to punch her right in the face, rock her, get out of here in 20 seconds, Ronda.”

Rousey was up The Kurt Angle Show earlier this year and was asked what matchup could potentially bring her back to MMA. The UFC Hall of Famer and former champion said, “There’s only one person. There’s only one person I’d come back for. I mean, I’ve said it a million times, for Gina, man. Gina Carano, she is why I started fighting she’s why I knew it was a possibility I’ll always be grateful If she ever said “Ronda I want to fight you tomorrow at 205 pounds” like what the hell she would too “I’m not saying she weighs 205 pounds. If she wants to come to my backyard and do the Rocky thing, you know, “thing-thing” and we just do it in the backyard, I don’t care. I’ll fight Gina where she wants and if she doesn’t, forever, [I will leave that offer there]. It’s a matter of respect, not like an ‘F – you. I’ve come to get you.’ It’s like, ‘Hey, if you ever want to take that card out, it’s there. I love her. Thank you, Gina, for all you’ve done.”

h/t WrestlingNews.co