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The Washington Post

What had been rumoured for months now appears close to becoming a reality: Ronda Rousey is set to join the WWE.
That’s according to USA Today, which cited two people close to Rousey in reporting the former UFC champion is “finalising details” of a contract with the professional wrestling company.
Rousey, who hasn’t had a mixed martial arts fight since December 2016, has offered indications that she was interested in the WWE.
Reports emerged in August she was learning pro wrestling moves, and she was spotted at the time speaking with WWE executive Triple H at a taping for an all-female tournament.
Rousey was ostensibly there to cheer for her friend Shayna Baszler, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor in the tournament, but she wound up in a WWE segment shown in September.


Rousey and her friends and MMA training partners Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir were confronted by a trio of leading WWE performers in Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Becky Lynch.
No words were spoken, except by Rousey, who told the WWE stars, “Name the time. Name the place,” then added, “Oh, not today? I’ll be waiting to hear from you”.
Ronda Rousey to WWE? Get in line, says SmackDown ‘Queen’ Charlotte Flair on Shenzhen trip
That scene ramped up speculation Rousey would soon be performing in the ring for WWE, on a more permanent basis than her one-off appearance at 2015’s WrestleMania 31, when she teamed with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to clash with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
It seems likely WWE will continue a storyline in which the former “Four Horsewomen” of MMA – Rousey, Baszler, Duke and Marina Shafir – tangle with the WWE’s current “Four Horsewomen” – Flair, Bayley, Lynch and Sasha Banks.


Duke and Shafir have reportedly also been training to cross over into pro wrestling. Their nickname with Rousey and Baszler was an homage to the Ric Flair-led “Four Horsemen” faction of the 1980s and ‘90s.
Rousey has long been known as a big fan of pro wrestling, even as she rocketed to fame as an Olympic bronze medallist in judo and then became a dominant force in MMA.
Ronda Rousey issues WWE challenge, teases future wrestling match to signal end of UFC career
The UFC’s first female fighter, Rousey began her MMA career 12-0, usually dispatching her foes soon into the first round, and won acclaim for her skills and charisma.
However, a stunning loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015 punctured her aura of invincibility, and after taking more than a year to recover and attend to a burgeoning acting career, Rousey was knocked out in just 48 seconds by Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

That will almost certainly stand as Rousey’s final MMA fight, as even UFC President Dana White has said he doesn’t expect her back in the octagon.
Meanwhile, she has appeared this year on US television network NBC’s “Blindspot”, and is filming scenes for a Mark Wahlberg film called “Mile 22”.
MMA Weekly reported that, as production on that film is expected to last until February, Rousey would not be a full-time member of WWE but would participate in some of the company’s most high-profile events over the coming year. That is likely to include an appearance at WrestleMania 34 in April.






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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Ronda Rousey finalising details of WWE contract with WrestleMania on the cards: report

Ronda Rousey’s aura of invincibility in UFC was shattered by a loss to Holly Holm in 2015. Photo: AFP

Charlotte Flair in action against Becky Lynch on WWE SmackDown Live

Ronda Rousey to WWE? Get in line, says SmackDown ‘Queen’ Charlotte Flair on Shenzhen trip

Charlotte Flair poses outside the Shenzhen Civic Centre, which will host a WWE live event on September 17. Photo: WWE

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 16, 2015 shows Ronda Rousey of the US (L) lining up compatriot Holly Holm during the UFC title fight in Melbourne. The world's largest mixed martial arts organisation is looking to knuckle its way into Asia amid warnings the move could spark a brawl with regional promotions over a slice of the lucrative market. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Charlotte Flair at a meet and greet with fans in Shenzhen

Charlotte flair at a Q&A at Mission Hills

Ronda Rousey to WWE? UFC star reportedly training for pro wrestling career

Ronda Rousey’s undefeated streak in MMA was snapped by Holly Holm in November 2015. Photo: AFP

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 30: Ronda Rousey exits the Octagon after her loss to Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 207 event on December 30, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Ronda Rousey issues WWE challenge, teases future wrestling match to signal end of UFC career

Ronda Rousey (right) has not competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship since last December. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Other Sport

UFC legend has reportedly been training for switch to professional wrestling as debut nears


Ronda Rousey finalising details of WWE contract with WrestleMania on the cards: report

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}UFC legend has reportedly been training for switch to professional wrestling as debut nears

UFC legend has reportedly been training for switch to professional wrestling as debut nears