UFC President Dana White dispels rumors of Ronda Rousey’s return to the octagon, asserting that the former WWE Superstar has moved on from professional fighting. White’s comments follow reports of Rousey’s potential exit from WWE, sparking speculations about her next career move.
Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has quashed recent rumors suggesting that Ronda Rousey is planning a return to the UFC following her departure from WWE. The reports surfaced after Rousey’s announcement that she no longer felt a reason to continue in wrestling following her loss to Shayna Baszler at SummerSlam 2023.
Rousey, a UFC Hall of Famer, originally made a splash in the world of professional wrestling with her WWE debut in 2018. Her initial foray into WWE lasted around a year before a hiatus, only to make a triumphant return in January 2022 by winning the Royal Rumble match. Over the ensuing 20 months, Rousey cemented her presence by participating actively on SmackDown and securing several championship titles.
However, her unexpected statement about leaving the wrestling business stirred speculation about her possible return to the UFC, especially with reports that she was eyeing a final shot at a UFC title at UFC 300. The prospect of Rousey later exploring opportunities in the TV and film industry further fueled the conversation.
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Dana White, in response to the swirling speculation, denied any return plans for Rousey during a media interaction. According to Aaron Bronsteter of TSN Sports, White emphasized that Ronda Rousey had moved on with her life, indicating that she was focusing on starting a family.
“Ronda’s having kids! Ronda built this whole thing that’s going on with the women here, then her dream was to go to the WWE, she went there and did everything that she did there and achieved, she’s made sh*tloads of money. She’s moved on with her life,” White stated.
Wrestling Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff engaged in an insightful discussion about the swirling rumors surrounding Ronda Rousey’s potential departure from WWE. Bischoff’s remarks provided an intriguing perspective on Rousey’s stint in the Stamford-based company, exploring the dynamics that may influence her decision.
Bischoff didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts on Rousey’s time in WWE, admitting that he never sensed a strong desire from the 36-year-old superstar to remain within the wrestling landscape. Reflecting on her initial days with the company, Bischoff remarked,
“From day one, I never felt like she wanted to be there. I hope she’s done… Once I watched Holly Holm absolutely destroy Ronda [in UFC] and you saw the fear and the weakness… She went from being this incredibly cool bada** woman, you saw, you could smell the fear in her eyes. That’s how intense it was. She lost her mystique for me at that moment.”
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The wrestling veteran’s commentary took a turn toward Rousey’s performance in the octagon, drawing a parallel to her loss to Holly Holm in UFC. Bischoff stated that this defeat significantly altered the perception of Rousey, citing a visible transformation in her demeanor. Recalling the fight, he remarked,
“Now, maybe to a lot of WWE fans, that wasn’t that big a deal, and she was coming over with that UFC persona. But once you’ve been exposed as badly as Holly Holm exposed Ronda, that mystique stayed. That mystique left her in UFC and she wasn’t able to bring that over.”
Continuing his assessment, Bischoff acknowledged that while Rousey’s UFC persona might have initially resonated with WWE fans during her transition, the exposure she encountered in her final UFC match had a lasting impact on her overall presence. “Now, maybe to a lot of WWE fans, that wasn’t that big a deal, and she was coming over with that UFC persona. But once you’ve been exposed as badly as Holly Holm exposed Ronda, that mystique stayed. That mystique left her in UFC and she wasn’t able to bring that over,” Bischoff explained.
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As the speculation surrounding Ronda Rousey’s next career move continues to circulate, the wrestling world awaits any official announcements that might shed light on her future endeavors within or beyond the realm of WWE.
