Ronda Rousey stunned WWE audiences with an incredible debut in the ring at Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans on Sunday night. It was enough to suspend any wrestling fan’s belief.
There has been pressure on the former UFC women's bantamweight champion since she announced the decision to switch from MMA to pro wrestling, saying the cage-figtting crossover wasn't just a "smash-and-grab," and her debut performance didn’t disappoint.
Rousey entered the ring with tag-team partner and WWE legend Kurt Angle, to square up against Stephanie McMahon and her husband, Triple H, People magazine noted.
The match came to an end when Rousey forced McMahon to tap out, securing a maiden victory for the former MMA star and her partner.
Rousey has seen her share of triumphs and losses leading up to her weekend victory.
It stems back to December 2016, when she lost against UFC champion Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds, according to MMA Junkie.
Up to that point the former champ, who joined the UFC in February 2013, had won six consecutive title defenses but the upset forced her to reconsider her future.
Last year reports began to emerge that Rousey was speaking to WWE executives and rumors began to circulate that she was toying with the idea of pursuing wrestling as her next professional venture last year, after she appeared at a WWE event in September and challenged wrestler Charlotte Flair.
In January, ESPN confirmed that Rousey had signed on with WWE to perform with the company as a full-time wrestler.
“This is my life now. First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt,” she said.
“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.’”
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