It looks like the WWE creative team was caught off guard by UFC President Dana White’s recent comments regarding Ronda Rousey not being able to wrestle a match.
On Friday, The Fight Network spoke with the UFC boss, who said that Rousey’s appearance at WrestleMania 31 earlier this year was a “one-and-done,” and that he would not be allowing her to compete in an actual match for the promotion.
As noted, WWE has been running with the idea that Rousey will be working an actual legitimate match next year, which was basically what they hoped to get out of having her appear in the first place, in terms of a final payoff.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the creative team in WWE was “stunned” to hear White’s comments, as apparently they had no idea that he was completely opposed to the idea. One would assume that if they were caught off guard by the comments, they were working with the idea that it was at least a possibility.
Whether White is able to be convinced to change his mind by the time WrestleMania 32 rolls around this time next year remains to be seen, but if this is important enough to WWE, it’s safe to assume they won’t give up without a fight.
VIDEO: Watch Dana White Say He Won’t Let Ronda Rousey Wrestle For WWE