Ronda Rousey: ‘I’m Very Aware That Women Are Headlining WWE Because Of Me’

Ronda Rousey says women headlining WWE is a direct result of what she proved in the ring, and she is not interested in softening that claim.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated ahead of her MMA return against Gina Carano on May 16, Rousey reflected on her WWE run and what she built from it.

“I’m very aware that women are headlining WWE because of me. That women are headlining and making big paydays in boxing because of me. In bare-knuckle boxing, in full-contact karate, in everything that’s a contact sport. I’m very, very proud of seeing all the success the women are having, because I was able to prove their commercial viability, and everyone’s trying to recapture that lightning in a bottle.”

She also said her time competing alongside the women in WWE was one she looks back on fondly.

“I had a great time; I love playing a real heel. Not trying to be the cool-guy heel, or trying to be like, ‘oh, this is just my character.’ Because I feel like that’s what kayfabe is now: people don’t know the difference between the show and the reality, and I wanted to play that up as much as possible. I am me regardless of whether I’m in the ring or not. The time I was in the ring with the girls, I was having the time of my life…being in the ring and actually doing it with those women, was an incredible experience.”

Rousey was part of the first-ever women’s main event at WrestleMania, competing in a three-way match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35.