Ronda Rousey: WWE Monday night Raw star could be women’s champion for China debut in Shanghai
UFC Hall of Fame inductee Ronda Rousey leads the billing for WWE Live Shanghai event at Mercedes-Benz Arena in September
Ronda Rousey will be front and centre when WWE returns to China in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 1.
It will be UFC Hall of Fame inductee Rousey’s in-ring debut in China, and she could be bringing the Raw Women’s Championship with her after it was announced on Monday she will compete for the title at August’s SummerSlam pay-per-view event at the Barclays Centre in New York.
Other stars from the WWE’s Raw television brand listed for WWE Live Shanghai are Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss – the defending women’s champion who faces Rousey at SummerSlam.
Also making the trip will be Finn Balor, Jinder Mahal, Matt Hardy, Bray Wyatt and “many more”, according to a WWE statement.
“We are excited to return to Shanghai, demonstrating WWE’s commitment to our passionate and growing fan base in China,” said Jay Li, vice-president and general manager of WWE Greater China.
“Fans can look forward to seeing an action-packed night of family-friendly entertainment that will create lifelong memories.”
It will be the third straight year WWE has put on a show in China, having come to Shenzhen last September and Shanghai in 2016.
In June 2016, WWE announced a multi-year agreement with PPTV to broadcast WWE programming including Raw and SmackDown Live in Mandarin.
WWE also signed eight Chinese recruits that year, and has continued to scout talent from the region to develop their skills at the WWE Performance Centre in Orlando, Florida.
