Ronda Rousey has ditched UFC for WWE.
Once the most dangerous women in MMA, Rousey officially made the anticipated jump to WWE on Sunday night with a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia.
The former UFC bantamweight champion also told ESPN that she’s fully committed to wrestling and not just planning cameos at WWE’s biggest events.
“This is my life now. Yeah, they have first priority on my time for the next several years,” she said. “This is not a smash and grab, this is not a publicity stunt.”
Rousey appeared to roaring fans in Philadelphia, and pointed to a WrestleMania sign – scheduled for New Orleans in April – as Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” blared through the arena.
Rousey smiled when Royal Rumble winner Asuka slapped her hand away on an offer for a handshake. Rousey left the ring and walked over to WWE executive and Royal Rumble commentator Stephanie McMahon. Rousey shook hands with McMahon and left without saying a word. She slapped hands with fans at ringside.
Rousey fed into the surprise with a little misdirection before one of wrestling’s biggest pay-per-view events of the year.
Before getting in the ring, she had ruled out an appearance at the Royal Rumble in an interview and even posted an Instagram video over the weekend of herself in Colombia enjoying a night out with the crew filming her latest movie, the action thriller “Mile 22” with Mark Wahlberg and John Malkovich.
Still, she had frequently met with WWE executive Paul Levesque, better known as wrestling superstar Triple H, to discuss her interest in a deal that finally came to fruition.
She has not fought since she suffered a 48-second loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016.
Rousey (12-2) lost two straight bouts in 13 months and took a break to extend her entertainment credits.
It’s unclear whether Rousey plans to fully give up on the UFC and mixed martial arts, and she would not commit to saying she’s retired when asked directly by ESPN.
“That’s what everybody else seems to say – I mean, I never retired from judo. So that’s what you guys want to think,” she said. “All I know is I really want to devote 100 per cent of my time to wrestling right now and whatever people want to call that they can call it.”
UFC president Dana White said Rousey will never fight again for the company, and Rousey said she hasn’t followed MMA in the past year.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
MMA is a sport though and losing their biggest female draw is relevant
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah good mate. It's a difficult situation I suppose. I cannot remember a sport exploding like UFC has so having the right mix between industry professionals making the sport appealing to fighters and punters and managing the bickies that flow from it. Just like when they put a suit in charge of the footy, no emotional attachment but believes they have the greater good of the game at heart. Both have different but equally important skills that need to be in balance because one doesn't exist without the other.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
It's all about money for Rousey but I would have liked to see what she could have achieved with a different coach. Its evident shes not as good as people thought when the division first came to fruition now there's a lot more talent and depth. I don't think she ever returns in any capacity.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Hey Nat, how r u mate? Not dissing Rousey take easy money from the WWE, who would not? But would of been better if she stayed in ufc in some form. But from reports I have heard ufc or doing the same stupid change of staff the WCW did back in the 90’s. got rid of all the experts for a bunch of no knowledge idiot accountants
Nat
Roar Guru
Hey J. Why not? Like all the good WI cricketers playing 20/20 over tests, half the work for 3x the cash. I never really knew of her until I watched Holms kick her head in which obviously left some mental scars so now she's in the entertainment industry.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Been thinking bout this for a couple of days now and I find it really sad that Rousey has gone from being one of the most dangerous women in the world to just another one of Vince McMahon’s bimbos (clearly she is not) trying to act tough. Although she will do great things in WWE no doubt, I feel that she should of stayed in ufc in either a coaches role or a commentary role. Hopefully like shamrock she’ll return to real fighting after a couple of years
Jerry
Guest
It's not a sport, there's no competitive element to it. It's a performance, the same as a circus trapeze artist or a ballet dancer. Both of those require tremendous athletic skill, but neither is a sport. Wrestling is skillful and physical, but it's not a sport any more than the films The Rock makes.
BigJ
Roar Guru
If you can’t get hurt doing it then it ain’t a sport. WWE is in a league of their own, but they can get hurt pretty bad doing it, so in my mind it’s a sport
shirtpants
Roar Guru
We have very differing ideas of what constitutes as "sport" A scripted event is not a sport.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Neither is golf, body building, billards,croquet, lawn bowls, darts, or that stupid esports thing where they sit on they dots and play computer games, but they still get a mention on this site so why not wwe. It’s a form of entertainment but then aren’t all sports???
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Couldn't be any less relevant anymore. Isn't this a sport page? WWE is not sport.