Rousey happy she lost last two MMA fights as it led to WWE
Ronda Rousey: “I thought I would never say this, but I’m so happy I lost those fights because it led me here. This is so worth it.”
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion retired from the Octagon after back to back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes, and signed with the WWE. She made her promotional debut at Wrestlemania 34 on Sunday, in a tag team match with fellow Olympic medalist Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon and Triple HHH. Her debut was apparently a success.
Rousey is one of the best fighters ever. The acting in Hollywood films that she did to date was been wooden to a degree. But the WWE apparently combines the two in a way that works just right.
AND HERE WE GO! #TeamRousey#WrestleMania @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/ScNSwhcfKE
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
ROWDY @RondaRousey is PLAYING THE GAME!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/1vBO7aiigG
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
Looks like all that #WrestleMania training that @RondaRousey has been doing just might pay off… she is DOMINATING on The #GrandestStageOfThemAll! pic.twitter.com/1pwXIFZvti
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
A DESPARATION ESCAPE executed by @TripleH! Is this the turning point #TeamMcMahon needs?!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/iLGCqTONoz
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 9, 2018
Time for some VICTORY HIGH FIVES for #TeamRousey!#WrestleMania @RondaRousey @RealKurtAngle pic.twitter.com/cpFm8Mweoy
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
“It was me versus the world in an individual sport,” said Rousey to ESPN Senior Writer Ramona Shelburne. “I thought I would never say this, but I’m so happy I lost those fights [to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes] because it led me here. This is so worth it.
“Everything really does happen for a reason. I’m just so grateful. I thought I never would be [grateful] for [the losses], but time is a great teacher. I’m just really, really glad I gave it time instead of giving up and feeling it was the end of the world. There’s so many people who encounter tragedies who feel like the world and time won’t heal it. But all I can say to those people is: Just give it time, even if you think time can’t heal it. You never know what will happen and where it will lead you. Every missed opportunity is a blessing in disguise. I really believe it now.”
“I owe the WWE universe an apology, because I thought they were going to boo me out of the building from day one. They really accepted me from day one. Hopefully, I satisfied a lot of skeptics tonight.
“I underestimated how kind the WWE universe would be. I thought any outsiders would be shunned. I was expecting to get shunned and to have to battle to be accepted. I worked my ass off to pay respect to what’s so important to them, and hopefully they saw that tonight. I’m just so grateful, man. I’m trying my best to deserve it.”
Rousey remains respectful too of MMA, lauding Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 223 the night before.
“Oh my god, I’m so proud of them,” said Rousey. “They’re such great representatives of the sport. They’re what that sport really needs — women like them. It’s just like a great sign for the future. Every sport has its peaks and valleys, but I think they’re a real testament to the staying power of the UFC.
“If anything, it was like a blessing sending me on my way. They had this amazing match, everyone’s super stoked for them and the women’s division. It was just like their way of telling me, ‘Don’t worry, go handle your thing and do what you’re meant to do.'”
“It feels good … You ever go somewhere for the first time and it’s like coming home or somewhere you’ve been before? It feels more familiar than it should.”