WWE World Champion Shocks Fans, Announces Retirement

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE world champion Ronda Rousey made a significant announcement about her career.

Known as “Rowdy” during her time in the ring, Rousey revealed that she is officially ending her full-time wrestling career. While the ex-UFC trailblazer and WWE superstar may still make occasional appearances, she confirmed that fans can expect her to keep a much lighter schedule moving forward. A name synonymous with revolutionizing women’s mixed martial arts (MMA), Rousey etched her legacy as a trailblazer in the sport and beyond.

On Tuesday, she opened up about her experiences in professional wrestling, her relationship with Vince McMahon, and her future in the sport. In the candid interview, she reflected on her journey from the octagon to the squared circle and the challenges she faced along the way. While Rousey still loves professional wrestling, she is uncertain about her future in the sport.

“I might come back and have some fun here and there,” she said, but acknowledged the difficulty of balancing her career with her family life, especially after the birth of her second child. “I just don’t think I can ask them to sacrifice that anymore,” she admitted.

In addition to wrestling, Rousey has been exploring other creative pursuits. She shared that she has been working on a graphic novel and even sold a screenplay to Netflix. “I didn’t write a graphic novel because I thought I had a story to tell,” she said, explaining that it became an outlet for her creative energy. Rousey has also been interning at WME’s story department, where she has been learning the ins and outs of screenwriting. “It became my secret hobby,” she said.

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Her resolve was apparent from a young age, shaped significantly by her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, a judo champion. The lineage of fighters set the stage for Rousey’s future in combat sports. Rousey’s judo career was marked by notable achievements, including a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making her the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo. However, her transition to MMA is where she truly made her mark.

Rousey’s wrestling debut at WrestleMania 34 was widely praised, but her time in WWE was not without its struggles. She revealed that her entry into the company was dubbed the “Ronda Rousey project” by Vince McMahon. Despite the initial excitement, her relationship with McMahon and others in WWE soured over time. “Vince is an 80-year-old [expletive],” Rousey said, showing that there was no love lost between them. However, she did express positive feelings towards Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, calling them “fantastic.”

Rousey also opened up about the toll her MMA career took on her health. She revealed that she had suffered numerous concussions during her time in the sport, and the physical and neurological toll led her to prioritize her health and family over a return to the ring or octagon. “When I got into MMA, I had already had dozens of concussions that I trained through,” she said.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, Rousey remains committed to chasing her passions, whether in the ring, on the screen, or through her creative projects. “Congrats on chasing all your passions,” Van Vliet said, to which Rousey replied, “It’s been a fun journey.”

Rousey debuted professionally in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks with her fierce competitiveness and signature armbar finisher, a move she mastered under her mother’s tutelage. In 2012, Rousey’s influence was undeniable as she became the first female fighter to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She was instrumental in UFC President Dana White’s decision to introduce women’s divisions in the organization. Rousey’s dominance was unparalleled in the early years of the women’s bantamweight division, defending her title six times.

Beyond the octagon, Rousey has ventured into acting and professional wrestling. She’s had roles in films like “The Expendables 3” and “Furious 7” and her stint with WWE, where she also captured the Raw Women’s Championship These endeavors have made her a fixture in mainstream media, contributing to the sport’s growing popularity. She has been a vocal advocate for mental health, sharing her struggles and resilience. Her autobiography, “My Fight/Your Fight,” is both a memoir and a manifesto, inspiring others to face challenges head-on.

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