So much for being in Colombia filming a movie.
Former UFC star Ronda Rousey made her WWE debut following the Royal Rumble and according to ESPN, she has signed a full-time deal with the company.
After Asuka won the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble, she was standing in the ring with Raw women’s champion Alexa Bliss and SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair when Rousey’s familiar music (“Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett) hit. Out came the 30-year-old, smiling from ear ear and wearing a Roddy Piper-esque t-shirt and one of Piper’s leather jackets that she got from his son.
Rousey attempted to shake Asuka’s hand but had it slapped away. Rousey then pointed to the WrestleMania sign a few times, went outside the ring and shook Stephanie McMahon’s hand after McMahon was hesitant to do so. Rousey then walked up the ramp and pointed to the sign once again.
Minutes after the appearance, ESPN published an article saying Rousey has come to terms on a deal with WWE “as a full-time professional wrestler.” From the piece:
“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,” Rousey told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne of her decision to join WWE. “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.'”
Rousey famously made an appearance at a past WrestleMania with The Rock in an angle with Triple H and McMahon, and had been seen in videos during last summer’s Mae Young Classic which featured her teammate and friend Shayna Baszler.
We’ll have more on this big turn of events tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio.