After months of speculation and rumors, it’s finally official: Ronda Rousey belongs to WWE. And reportedly, she’s not going to just make stops here and there, she’s a full-time WWE Superstar. (Watch the video of her appearance here.)
This comes from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, who got the scoop that Ronda joins her former UFC co-worker Brock Lesnar as the latest former UFC champion to make the jump to the squared circle.
BREAKING: Ronda Rousey has arrived at Royal Rumble. She has signed a full-time contract with WWE, according to @ramonashelburne. pic.twitter.com/O9y0FjqC15
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 29, 2018
Ronda Rousey with @TripleH and @StephMcMahon pic.twitter.com/bmCXAHVzLZ
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 29, 2018
It all went down after the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble. Rousey’s long-time Joan Jett music hit, and out she came head to toe in “Rowdy” gear, before she pointed at the Wrestlemania sign high above the ring and stared down Royal Rumble Match winner Asuka, the SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, and Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss.
Leading up to the event, Ronda tried to make it seem like she was somewhere in South America, but nope. As many expected, she made her debut. And it looks like her time in the UFC is officially over. She spoke to Shelburne and made it clear WWE was her main focus:
“This is my life now. First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt. When I first met with Triple H, I told him, ‘There are other things I can do with my time that’ll make way more money, but I won’t enjoy nearly as much.’”
“It’s funny — it’s kind of like acting, in that it was something I always wanted to do but I never thought was in the cards for me. And now that I realize I really do have this opportunity, I feel like my 6-year-old self would totally kick my ass if I didn’t take it.”
Who will get armbarred first?
(Via ESPN)
