The former UFC women’s bantamweight champion last set foot inside the Octagon in December 2016 in the main event of UFC 207, a card which saw her suffer a devastating first-round TKO loss to Amanda Nunes.
Defeat to Nunes was of course proceeded by her spectacular UFC 193 loss to Holly Holm, which saw her relinquish the 135lbs title via a second-round KO defeat.
Ever since losing to Nunes, Rousey has been linked with a move to the WWE, a following her appearance at Wrestlemania 31 in 2014.
One of the worst-kept secrets in the entertainment world was revealed last night when Rousey made her WWE debut at last night’s Royal Rumble.
The question on many mixed martial arts fans’ lips following her appearance at the Rumble was a simple one: Is Ronda Rousey done with mixed martial arts?
According to the Olympian, MMA is no longer her ‘first priority.’
“This is my life now. First priority on my timeline for the next several years,” Rousey told ESPN.
“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.'”
Stepping into the WWE universe was a surreal experience for Rousey, who said: “I don’t have words at all.
“I’m like — this is the most overstimulated I’ve ever been in my life and … I’m just, like I’m still processing it.
“I’m so happy and I don’t have words for it — and I usually have words for everything; This never happened before.”