Ronda Rousey’s Journey with WWE: From UFC Domination to Rookie Wrestling
The change in Ronda Rousey from UFC superstar to WWE Superstar was incredible. The foundation for what many anticipated would be a dominant reign in the WWE was laid by her spectacular debut at WrestleMania 34, where she partnered with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. But as Rousey recently disclosed, things weren’t quite as easy as they seemed during her time in WWE. When Rousey looked back on her fight with Alexa Bliss, she opened up about how poorly planned one of her early feuds in the WWE was, providing insight into the difficulties she encountered navigating the sports entertainment industry.
The Bliss Rivalry: A Story of Intentional Mistakes
Following her outstanding debut, Rousey was thrown into the women’s division of the WWE, where she had to prove she was a serious contender. Plans swiftly changed once it appeared that Rousey and Nia Jax would square off for the Raw Women’s Championship. In an unfortunate turn of events, Alexa Bliss was disqualified from Rousey’s bout versus Jax because she cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase. This paved the way for Rousey and Bliss to engage in a fierce rivalry that resulted in Rousey winning her first women’s championship at SummerSlam and holding it successfully at Hell in a Cell.
But unlike what fans might have thought, Rousey claims that the rivalry with Bliss was not as carefully thought out. Rousey discussed her thoughts on the conflict and revealed that it was more of a last-minute choice than a well-thought-out plot in a recent interview with Ring The Belle. In retrospect, Rousey said, “I thought maybe they were just trying to improve me as a wrestler so I could sell for someone as big as my leg and make it convincing.” “But in the end, it all came down to Vince ignoring us and deciding to combine Ronda and her because she’s currently popular and she sells the most merchandise.”
The Rivalry’s True Nature
Rousey’s comments highlighted the frequently disorganized creative process of WWE, where choices are frequently made more for financial reasons than for cohesive storytelling. Rousey hinted that the conflict between her and Bliss resulted from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s propensity to put star power and retail sales ahead of the deep narrative. With little creative guidance from the top, Rousey and Bliss were left with the difficult chore of making the conflict work.
When Rousey reminisces about the rivalry’s development, her frustration is evident. She stated plainly, “That started a long legacy of having to make chicken sh*t into chicken salad.” Notwithstanding the narrative’s faults, Rousey acknowledges that Bliss assisted her in developing as a performer. Rousey said, “I learned a lot from her.” “She taught me that to draw people in, we need to lead with things like comedy, narrative, and facial expressions.”
An Adaptability Lesson
Rousey’s insight is notable for its recognition of the physical and creative obstacles she encountered throughout her struggle with Bliss. With experience in mixed martial arts (MMA), where competitors are expected to endure real physical abuse, Rousey had to drastically modify her approach when working with Bliss. Because of Bliss’s persistent injury problems and the disparity in size between the two fighters, Rousey was forced to reconsider her strategy in the ring.
“I’m accustomed to dealing with individuals who are expected to be resilient enough to stop me from attempting to harm them with my bare hands,” Rousey said. Then I’m entering there with someone and thinking, “Okay, I have to take care of her and make this physical and believable.” This presented Rousey with a fresh challenge and the need to have a deeper comprehension of the distinctive fusion of athleticism and entertainment that characterizes professional wrestling.
Even though the feud helped Rousey develop as a more complete performer in the end, she couldn’t help but wish WWE’s executives had given her more careful creative guidance. She remarked, “I wish there had been much more consideration from the top.” But they were merely laying the groundwork, giving the impression that this is how things would be. You guys will need to put in the thought to make it work because we will be throwing things at you without any planning.
Ronda Rousey’s Unfulfilled Promise in Becky Lynch
One unanswered issue lingers as Rousey reflects on her time spent with WWE: Why did WWE fail to capitalize on the much-anticipated singles match between Rousey and Becky Lynch? Even with the enormous fan base and obvious storyline possibilities, Rousey and Lynch were never able to face off against one other. After constant teasing, the match—which many thought would be the main attraction of a pay-per-view—never happened.
Rousey made a passing reference in her interview about being offered the match at a special pay-per-view, but she didn’t say anything more. One of the most obvious examples of WWE’s occasionally puzzling creative choices is the match’s exclusion from the company’s booking. For many, one of the biggest “what ifs” in recent WWE history is the lack of Rousey vs. Lynch.
An Era of Victories and What May Have Been
Ronda Rousey has experienced both exhilarating highs and exasperating lows during her time in the WWE. Even if it wasn’t the big rivalry it could have been, Rousey’s rivalry with Alexa Bliss was essential to her growth as a WWE Superstar. It demonstrated her capacity to adjust, pick things up quickly, and flourish in a setting that frequently calls for flexibility and resiliency.
However, as Rousey admits, there’s still a sense of unfulfilled potential. Rousey’s WWE career serves as a reminder that even the biggest talents are occasionally vulnerable to hurried creative decisions, as evidenced by the lackluster feud with Bliss and the unrealized bout with Becky Lynch. Despite this, there is no denying Rousey’s influence on the women’s division of WWE. Her athleticism, star power, and crossover appeal have made a lasting impression on the industry, guaranteeing that her legacy will go on long after her last match.
In the end, Rousey’s narrative is one of success versus hardship in both the squared circle and the octagon. One thing is for sure: Ronda Rousey will always be a formidable presence, both inside and beyond the ring, regardless of whether she decides to rejoin the WWE or pursue other endeavors.
