WWE rumors: Ronda Rousey to participate in Royal Rumble 2018?

Ronda Rousey celebrates after defeating Bethe Correia of Brazil during their UFC match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 1, 2015.REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon has announced last Monday night on Raw that the first-ever Royal Rumble match for the women's division will take place on the pay-per-view event in January, and it is speculated that professional mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey will participate in the occasion.

McMahon's announcement comes at a time when the emphasis on the women's division of the WWE is becoming more and more apparent after the first Hell in a Cell and Money in the Bank ladder matches for the division have taken place earlier this year. The division is also at a point where it can hold a 30-women rumble match, assuming that some of the stars from NXT will be participating. 

Aside from NXT stars, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion is expected to make her professional wrestling debut in the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. According to a report from TMZ Sports, Rousey and the WWE have yet to reach an agreement, but it feels as though her formal foray into professional wrestling is inevitable since rumors of the talks between the 30-year old mixed martial artist and the professional wrestling company have been around for quite some time now. Additionally, winning the Rumble match would automatically set up a title match for Rousey at Wrestlemania, making her jump to the WWE even more memorable.

Other superstars who are speculated to make an impact on the occasion are newcomers Asuka and Nia Jax since the Rumble has long been used to anoint stars in the making. Aside from the two promising stars, former champions Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Mickie James, Natalya, or Bayley could also be put into consideration by the WWE.

The first-ever Women's Division Royal Rumble match will take place on Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.