Ronda Rousey’s departure from WWE was as sudden as it was unexpected, leaving fans and industry insiders alike to ponder the reasons behind her abrupt exit. Now, the trailblazing combat sports athlete is shedding light on her experiences with the wrestling giant through the pages of her new memoir. Before signing with WWE, Rousey had already made a name for herself with a memorable WrestleMania 31 appearance alongside The Rock, where they outshined Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Her official WWE debut came at the 2018 Royal Rumble, where she made a statement by confronting top female wrestlers immediately after the event.
The UFC Hall of Famer’s entrance at the Royal Rumble was met with thunderous applause as she interrupted Asuka’s championship selection moment following her historic win. Rousey’s gesture of pointing to the WrestleMania sign became a pivotal moment, signaling her intentions and setting the stage for her future in WWE. Despite the clarity of that gesture, Rousey describes in her book, “Our Fight,” how she received confusing instructions from Triple H regarding her debut. She recalls being given a simple map outlining the stage and ring positions but was ultimately left with vague directions to “do whatever you want” as long as she pointed to the WrestleMania sign.
The lack of detailed guidance from Triple H left Rousey feeling incredulous, as she sought more direction for her debut. The WWE had gone to great lengths to ensure her appearance was a surprise, akin to a military operation or jewel heist, yet when it came time to perform, she was given free rein. Triple H’s final advice to her was to let her emotions show and to make the iconic gesture of pointing at the WrestleMania sign, leaving her to interpret the rest on her own.
Rousey’s appearance at the Royal Rumble was a precursor to her official in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34, where she teamed up with Kurt Angle. Together, they triumphed over Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in a match that lasted nearly 21 minutes. However, Rousey’s WWE career came to an end in the summer of 2023. Despite announcing her retirement after a swift defeat by Shayna Baszler, she continued to make appearances in other wrestling promotions, teaming up with Marina Shafir and participating in various events.
As Ronda Rousey begins to open up about her time with WWE, her insights come at a time when she is promoting her memoir. Her comments have sparked discussions and sometimes controversy, as fans and critics alike dissect her candid revelations about the inner workings of her WWE career. Meanwhile, questions about her future in professional wrestling remain, with speculation about whether she might return to WWE, join AEW, or take her talents elsewhere in the wrestling world.
