The WWE gave Ronda Rousey a massive push after her entry into the promotion in 2018 to make her one of Triple H and Co.’s top stars. However, it can be safely said that things didn’t go according to their plan as Rousey’s stardom fell off within a few years of her WWE entry.
While Rousey’s fall from grace can be attributed to several factors, including conflicts with the authority regarding storylines, several fans and WWE stars think Rousey’s comments calling the WWE “fake” ultimately led to her downfall.
In an April 2020 episode of the Wild Ride! with Steve-O podcast, Rousey mentioned:
“I love the WWE. I had such a great time. I love all the girls [in the] locker room. Hell yeah! Running out there [and] having fake fights for fun is just the best thing you know.”
So, here’s a look at seven WWE stars who can’t stand Rousey for her seemingly untouchable attitude and labeling the WWE’s matches “fake fights.”
7. Lana
The cold war between Lana and Rousey reportedly started due to an issue with the 2019 edition of the WWE Reality Show, Total Divas. Lana and Rusev were set to be featured in the show, but a late research by the show’s broadcasters, channel E!, revealed that their public image wasn’t fit to be cast.
Ultimately, Rousey replaced Lana for the 2019 season of the show, which annoyed the latter significantly. In one of her now-deleted YouTube videos, Lana bragged about being more “ravishing” than Rousey and also bashed the E! channel.
“You will never be ravishing. You will never compare to be as ravishing as I am. No wonder I’m not liked by the E! demographic.” (via WrestlingNews)
Nevertheless, Lana also fired at Rousey through one of her X updates for her brash comments on Steve-O’s podcast, calling WWE matches “fake fighting.”
“I have NO WORDS for her audacity to save “fake fighting” !!!!!! If it’s fake why can’t @RealPaigeWWE & @TJWilson can’t wrestle anymore ?? If it is fake why couldn’t @EdgeRatedR wrestle for 11 years ???? This is a contact sport where REAL things happen!”
I have NO WORDS for her audacity to save “fake fighting” !!!!!! If it’s fake why can’t @RealPaigeWWE & @TJWilson can’t wrestle anymore ?? If it is fake why couldn’t @EdgeRatedR wrestle for 11 years ???? This is a contact sport where REAL things happen! https://t.co/cYvGpTjmci
— CJ Perry (@TheCJPerry) April 11, 2020
While Lana had issues with Rousey taking her spot on Total Divas, ‘Rowdy’s’ brash comment calling the WWE “fake fighting” is certainly one of the major reasons behind her disdain for ‘The Baddest Woman On the Planet.’
6. The Miz
The Miz may not have anything against Rousey, but his dislike solely stems from ‘Rowdy’s’ comments about wrestling being “fake fighting for fun.” ‘The Awesome One’ appeared in an episode of WWE star Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast in 2020. In it, he criticized Rousey’s comments by highlighting that WWE stars like him also get “hurt” while performing.
Miz also mentioned that Rousey was saying such things just to garner some easy publicity. He said:
“For her [Rousey] to say the ‘fake’ word, I just think she’s trying to use a trigger word to get the rise of the people.”
The Miz has been associated with the promotion for over a decade now, and it’s pretty understandable that Rousey’s comments didn’t sit well with him.
5. Nia Jax
Nia Jax has expressed her dislike for Rousey on quite a few occasions. Jax questioned Rousey’s wrestling skills after she concussed Alexa Bliss during their SummerSlam 2018 match. In a Twitch interview with Renee Young, Jax fired at Rousey, stating:
“She came into the scene, and she really didn’t get the proper WWE training that I was able to get at the Performance Center. So she had to learn things on the fly, and her instinct is MMA-UFC fighting, so her instinct is to go somewhere different” (via talkSport)
Jax jibed at Rousey once more with a now-deleted X update following her “fake fighting” comments about WWE matches. This time, Jax even challenged Rousey to an MMA fight, bragging that she would become the first WWE star to knock “the fu*k out” of Rousey.
“I’ll risk my job 2 go down in history as the one from this biz [the WWE] that knocked [Ronda] the F**K out!” (via New York Post)
After learning about the entire saga, nobody can think that these two have an amicable relationship.
4. Becky Lynch
The rivalry between Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey dates back to their WWE entries in 2018. Rousey’s MMA-earned star power caused the WWE to feature her in the most touted events, including WrestleManias. However, fans stood in support of Lynch, who proved herself inside the ring, but wasn’t provided with opportunities like Rousey.
This is why the crowd rallied behind Lynch instead of Rousey during the WWE Women’s Championship triple-threat match at WrestleMania 2019, also featuring Charlotte Flair.
Nevertheless, Lynch’s subtle feud with Rousey became a full-fledged rivalry after the latter called WWE matches “fake.” ‘The Man’ returned fire at Rousey during one of her ESPN interviews with Ariel Helwani. She called Rousey’s comments “disrespectful” and mocked her for being unable to keep up with the WWE’s schedule despite calling the matches “fake.”
“I think it’s completely disrespectful. I think it’s completely stupid, and I think it’s it’s almost laughable because this is the same woman who, a few months ago, was in her kitchen crying over how tough it is…She is crying in her kitchen about a part-time schedule because she cannot make breakfast for her husband, and yet that is the same woman who disrespects our business.”
Lynch’s comments leave nothing to the imagination about her dislike for Rousey.
3. Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss suffered two concussions during her storyline feud with Rousey in 2018, one of which happened during their high-octane clash at SummerSlam 2018. Nia Jax criticized Rousey’s poor execution skills, which led to Bliss suffering concussions, but ‘Five Feet Of Fury’ never badmouthed Rousey for the mishap.
However, Bliss couldn’t stop herself from schooling Rousey following the latter’s “fake fighting” comments about WWE matches. In an interview with CBS Sports, Bliss countered Rousey’s “fake” remark by highlighting how the concussions that she suffered put her entire career in jeopardy.
“What she [Rousey] did in MMA and UFC, I’ve always been super supportive and everything like that. It was just the use of the word ‘fake’ [that annoyed me.] Especially because we welcomed Ronda with open arms…we had a whole documentary based on my concussions and how I didn’t know if I was ever going to be medically cleared [to wrestle again]…My whole thing is, if she comes back to WWE? Great. We would all love to work with her again, I’m sure. Just limit the use of the ‘F’-word.”
Despite Bliss’s respectful attitude, it’s apparent that Rousey isn’t her favorite.
2. Christian
Christian may have left the WWE for AEW in 2021, but he was still with Triple H and Co. in 2020, when Rousey made her “fake fights” remark about WWE matches. Like the other stars on this list, ‘Captain Charisma’ was also offended by ‘Rowdy’s’ brash take about WWE matches.
Christian replied to Rousey during his appearance on an episode of the Hall of Fame podcast alongside Booker T. He mentioned how he gets offended by people calling the WWE “fake” because of the numerous injuries they suffer while performing.
“I get offended when I hear the word ‘fake’ in the sense of, ‘oh, you do that fake stuff,’ but here’s the thing, it’s not fake because the physicality of it is very real…The punishment our bodies go through on a nightly basis is not fake…I retired because of injuries, so that shows you how fake it is.” (via Reality Of Wrestling on YouTube)
Christian mentioned that he gets annoyed when outsiders call WWE fake. Hence, it’s quite understandable how Rousey’s remarks stung him.
1. Booker T
Booker T, Christian’s comrade for the aforementioned episode of the podcast, was also disappointed by Rousey calling wrestling matches “fake.” Booker opined that Rousey’s remark was like a “slap to the face” of every woman wrestler who worked with her in the WWE. ‘Booker Man’ also demanded an apology from Rousey for her brash comments. He said:
“It’s a slap in the face to each and every one of those ladies that had to go out there and work with her…It really is a slap in the face, and I think Ronda needs to apologize first and foremost because my momma said to me, ‘if you ain’t got something good to say to somebody, don’t say nothing at all.’” (via Reality Of Wrestling on YouTube)
Booker recently went off on Rousey once more, following the former UFC star’s negative remarks about the WWE in a recent episode of the Lapsed Fan podcast. ‘Rowdy’ labeled the WWE “an absolute shitshow” during the episode. (via Fightful)
In a recent episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker bashed Rousey’s comments, saying she “spat” on the face of the organization that gave her “everything,” including a sumptuous amount of money. He stated:
“I really feel like Ronda Rousey was given everything in this business…Ronda probably made more money with the WWE than she did in the UFC. I can almost guarantee you that, and to spit in the face of that, it’s just an insult, it really is.” (via Reality Of Wrestling on YouTube)
While Booker T has more than one reason to dislike Rousey, others can’t stand her, primarily due to her “fake fight” remark about WWE matches.
But did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments if you know about any other WWE stars who dislike Rousey for the “F”-word.
