The kick heard round the world; After her crushing loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193, PWP’s Eron Ramadanov explains what this means for Ronda Rousey’s future in MMA and what this means for WWE’s courtship of the “baddest woman on the planet.”
At UFC 193, mixed martial arts fans witnessed the absolute destruction of Ronda Rousey at the hands of the new UFC Bantamweight Champion, Holy Holm by a second round knock out via a kick to the side of head/neck. Being someone who watched this fight in a jam-packed restaurant, the entire fight you had two groups of people: you had the ones that were very happy to see Ronda get her face bashed in and then you had the ones that were cringing at the sight of the greatest women’s fighter in MMA history be picked apart so efficiently.
I’m not a hardcore MMA fan, but I do pay attention to the sport as a casual fan that follows the big names and big fights. Ronda is arguably the biggest name in the UFC and has now tasted defeat. After her loss to Holm, Rousey was taken to a local medical hospital for precautionary measures and UFC president Dana White revealed that Ronda Rousey will get her rematch immediately.
As crazy as this may sound, I actually felt sorry for Ronda Rousey. I know I probably shouldn’t but I do. Maybe not so much because I LIKE HER so much, but rather that I’ll miss the fanfare around her. But that feeling isn’t lost, as the rematch will probably be the biggest fight in the history of the UFC, as Ronda will attempt to extinguish her only demon.
Even though most die-hard and casual fans are upset about the loss to Ronda Rousey, wrestling fans are speculating if this loss to Holly Holm is the opening Ronda has been looking for to follow a passion that she’s expressed several times: World Wrestling Entertainment.
In interviews and media appearances, Ronda has talked about how after her WrestleMania 31 appearance with the Rock, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, that she wants to feel that feeling again and is interested in doing it again. WWE courting Ronda Rousey has been going on longer than people think. Ronda has been to numerous WWE events in the last 2-3 years and has been seen front row in every instance.
Rousey is also very friendly with WWE principle owner and Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon. In interviews, Stephanie McMahon has talked about the impact Ronda Rousey has had on her daughters, which is what originally sprouted the friendship.
Ronda Rousey has also expressed the friendship she has with The Rock, which can’t be ignored when it comes to WWE courting the former Bantamweight Champion.
As I said above, wrestling fans all over the internet since her loss have been speculating on the idea that Ronda Rousey could be done with MMA/UFC after her rematch with Holm, and will finally make the jump to WWE, like Brock Lesnar. I think depending on the outcome of their rematch, it’s very possible that Ronda would step away from the sport for good or an extended period of time. Rousey has always expressed that she isn’t depending on this sport and has other interests and hobbies that she’d like to pursue like wrestling, movies, etc.
If Ronda Rousey loses to Holly Holm again, I think it’s very possible that WWE would reach out to her to make the jump. Even after two losses to end her MMA career, Ronda Rousey would add a huge amount of legitimacy to the women’s division in WWE.
Something else I found funny, but oddly thought provoking is that many people on the internet have expressed a possible conspiracy theory that Ronda “threw” her fight so she can leave MMA. Those people are making the case that the timing is very interesting considering WrestleMania 32 is right around the corner and that Ronda was facing an undefeated opponent to “pass the torch” too.
All interesting and plausible thoughts, but in all honesty, the type of person Ronda is, I don’t think she’d ever half-ass anything.
I do believe her loss to Holm was easily her worst performance yet and that she looked angry, frustrated and unfocused.
Also, Ronda Rousey, Dana White and the entire UFC is wealthier, happier and better off with an undefeated Ronda Rousey. So, no…I don’t think Ronda “threw” her fight. I believe Holly Holm stayed calm and relaxed, picked her spots, which led to Ronda getting frustrated, leaving herself exposed.
As for me, I’d love to see Ronda Rousey in WWE. I think she could easily play the “Brock Lesnar” role for the women’s division. But I am one that believes that she should, at the very least, spend some time in the WWE Performance Center until WWE coaches feel as though she is ready to be able to hang in there with Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Paige, etc.
Only time will tell as to what Ronda Rousey decides to do with her future and if she can get back to the once dominate champion of UFC. WWE would probably like her to lose against Holly Holm in the rematch, but I hope Ronda whoops her this time around.
I’m a big fan of Ronda Rousey; I believe she’s good for the UFC, women’s sports and the moral of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling.
Even with her loss, she’s an icon.
Every great champion eventually loses (except for Floyd Mayweather…I guess), so I hold no less respect for Ronda Rousey. The test of a true champion is measured by how many times s/he gets back up, not knocked down.
Thanks for reading, everyone. What do you think? Will Ronda redeem herself against Holly Holm? Will she come to WWE? Let me know in the comments section or on Twitter.
