Ronda Rousey’s surprise appearance at AEW Revolution didn’t just stun the wrestling world — it caught most of her former employer off guard as well. According to Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez, while a small number of people within WWE were aware of Rousey’s planned PPV appearance, the vast majority inside the company were “shocked” when she showed up at Revolution.
Rousey appeared following Toni Storm’s victory over Marina Shafir, returning to the ring to call Storm back out for a face-to-face confrontation. Security quickly swarmed the ring to separate the two, and a heavily booed Rousey exited through the crowd alongside Shafir.
Rousey’s AEW Debut Comes Ahead of MMA Return Against Gina Carano in May
The appearance marks a significant moment in Rousey’s post-WWE career trajectory. She departed WWE in 2023 and has made only sporadic wrestling appearances since, competing a handful of times on the independent circuit and in ROH — where she teamed with Shafir. Her last match prior to Revolution dated back to November 2023.
Rousey’s next major commitment is an MMA return in May 2026, where she is set to face Gina Carano under Jake Paul’s MVP promotion, with the event airing on Netflix. The combination of her AEW appearance and upcoming MMA bout suggests Rousey is stepping back into the spotlight in a significant way after nearly two and a half years away from competition.
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