PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Ronda Rousey’s next bout in the ring won’t come in mixed martial arts but in the world of professional wrestling.
The biggest superstar in women’s MMA officially made the jump to WWE on Sunday night with a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia:
The former UFC bantamweight champion also told ESPN that she’s fully committed to wrestling and not just planning cameos at WWE’s biggest events, saying: “This is my life now. Yeah, they have first priority on my time for the next several years.”
Rousey appeared to roaring fans Sunday night after the women’s Royal Rumble in Philadelphia, challenging winner Asuka to fight at Wrestlemania in April by pointing to a sign as Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” blared through the arena.
Rousey had previously ruled out an appearance at the Royal Rumble but had frequently met with WWE executive Paul Levesque, better known as wrestling superstar Triple H, to discuss her interest in a deal.