Speculations around Ronda Rousey’s return to the squared circle have been going on for some time now. However, during an interview with Raj Prashad of the Uncrowned, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion revealed why it’s almost impossible for her to make a WWE return. Rousey shared:
It was a lot of needless anxiety and things like that. And the whole company was just a chaotic s*** show on the inside. And then they ended up dropping all my friends. So I really have no reason to go back. I wanted to do a run with the Four Horsewomen and I never got to do that. And now I feel like I’ve already accomplished everything that I wanted to in WWE and all that’s really left for me is to go there and have fun with my friends, and none of my friends are there anymore.
Additionally, she stated that with a family and kids, maintaining the lifestyle of a professional wrestler is impossible. Therefore, in all likelihood, Ronda Rousey will never return to the WWE.
Ronda Rousey Reveals There Was No Outreach From WWE During Evolution 2.0
The fallout of relations between Rousey and WWE has been consistent over the years. A standout moment in her career came when the former Raw Women’s Champion was the main event of the first-ever Evolution, an all-women PLE event by the WWE. She outperformed Nikki Bella and defended her title in that match.
7 years later, she was completely ignored for the second edition of the event. During the same conversation, Ronda Rousey unveiled that despite cameo appearances from several former WWE superstars, she was never approached for the event. Rousey further shared:
I didn’t hear from anybody. It was more of the way we left it was, they were like, ‘There’s always an open door; if you ever want to come back, let us know.
Several former superstars made cameo appearances to make the event even more special. These include WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus, who came out of retirement to challenge Tiffany Stratton for a one-time title match, and Nikki Bella, who returned to participate in the Women’s Battle Royal, creating a standout moment in the event.
Following her WWE exit, Rousey has not completely left the ring. She featured in several matches in the independent circuit before making a brief appearance in Ring of Honor in 2023 alongside her real-life best friend, AEW’s Shafir.
Rousey further stated that there was no extended conversation with AEW/Ring of Honor CEO Tony Khan about anything forward-thinking. An opportunity arose for her to get in the ring alongside her friend, and she took it.
Ronda Rousey Remarks on the Impact She Created in Pro-Wrestling and Beyond
Even though she may not return to the WWE or professional wrestling scene, the impact Ronda Rousey has created amongst fans and critics alike has been immense.
During the conversation with Raj Prashad, Rousey highlighted the situation with female wrestlers back during the time she was emerging as a talent in the world of MMA and remarked that she had to face similar situations in the WWE during the Vince McMahon era. Rousey further shared:
I think I’m most proud of being able to create a way for women in combat sports to be able to make a living that just didn’t exist before.
According to her, because of what Rousey could achieve in the UFC, women in the UFC and WWE got more respect and money. The executives in these organisations started taking their talented female wrestlers seriously and took great care of their physical state.
However, the former Raw Women’s Champion remarked that she does not get the kind of credit she deserves from the professional wrestling community. According to her, people tend to forget how things were for female wrestlers back then, and that is why no woman trailblazer gets the credit she deserves.
Fans might be on different sides of the spectrum as far as her remarks are concerned; however, without a doubt, Ronda Rousey triggered some consequential changes in the world of MMA and professional wrestling. What remains to be seen is whether she would ever return to the WWE and work with modern-day female superstars.
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