Ronda Rousey appeared at WrestleMania 31, and it lit the worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts on fire. Since then, she has stated she has to find a way back into the WWE ring.
And she should.
No one should be under illusions that Rousey will be sticking around the UFC for a long time. Her future lies outside of the cage. Her popularity explosion has led her to becoming an actress and getting opportunities such as WrestleMania. And the WWE can be a pathway to extend her brand.
Professional wrestling covers every demographic, and WrestleMania is a pop culture phenomenon. The press coverage of her WrestleMania appearance eclipsed most of her dealings in MMA. It was big for her, but she should only go back for select appearances.
The UFC will not keep Rousey forever, and it knows this. The more she can extend her brand, the more it will help the UFC. Her star only gets brighter. Dana White and company should embrace that. They should not try to keep Rousey out of the ring unless the WWE wants her to work a match. The fear of an injury would be a concern.
Rousey is a special attraction. The WWE, Rousey and the UFC should identify select events where Rousey can appear. It is mutually beneficial to all.
If Rousey tries to appear as frequently as she can, it could ruin what makes her appearances special. They should be reserved for big events and key moments. The WWE is already doing this effectively with Brock Lesnar. He is special because he is not there often. They can do the same with Rousey.
The biggest reason why Rousey should find her way back to the WWE ring is that she loves it.
Rousey’s passion for sports entertainment has been on display numerous times. She and her friends appear at WWE events, and even small independent promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Rousey has posted clips to Instagram of her performing moves at her camp in the past. If Rousey wants to go back to the squared circle, she should.
The key is to do it right. She is being pulled in a multitude of directions right now with a budding movie career and focusing on running through any and every contender in the 135-pound division.
Keeping her WWE appearances rare will be beneficial to all and allow her to continue being an attraction that people will pay to see.
As a fan of both pro wrestling and MMA, I am all in on Rousey keeping with her WWE appearances. Rousey is taking full advantage of the stardom she has earned through years of hard work, and it is great to see.
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