Ronda Rousey has not been on WWE television since Wrestlemania 35, losing the RAW Women’s Championship in a Winner Takes All Triple Threat Match Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Her return to WWE may not be until it’s time to sign a new contract. According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Rousey’s tentative return isn’t until Wrestlemania 37, or even later.
The major question is who will be next for Rousey once she returns. Will it be a current star on the roster, or another UFC crossover?
Amanda Nunes has been open to a WWE run once she retires from UFC. The last time she faced Rousey was at UFC 207 in 2016, where UFC betting sportsbooks had Rousey as as the clear favorite, despite being KO in 0.48 in the first round of the bout.
Retirement from UFC has been on the mind of Amanda Nunes, speaking with Brazilian sports talk show Esporte Espetacular, Nunes stated, “Ah, I don’t know, I’ve achieved everything I wanted. I’m well, I can go on with my life, maybe a [take] new step, maybe find new talents, help some girls there…maybe be a coach, too.”
Amanda Nunes stated she was open to joining WWE once she retires, speaking to Sports Illustrated she stated, “I’m open to it. Why not? I could try something new.”
This isn’t the first time Nunes considered retirement, after her win over Holly Holm 2019 she told reporters she was ready to call it quits, only to return five months later to defend her bantamweight tile against Germaine de Randamie at UFC 245 in Las Vegas.
While teasing retirement can often be used as a bargaining chip with combat sports, her remarks are clearly worrying UFC president Dana White.
During the UFC on ESPN 11 pre-fight press conference, Dana White frankly stated “no” when asked if the bantamweight division could continue without Nunes.
WWE has had a host of UFC alum on its roster over the years including Dan “The Beast Severn, Ken Shamrock, Shayna Baszler, Cain Velasquez, Matt Riddle, and Jessamyn Duke. Ronda Rousey by far has been the biggest crossover star WWE has had
Ronda Rousey signed a WWE contract, which ends in April 2021, and a new deal may need to be signed before we see her return to the squared circle.
The biggest questions that remains is if Rousey will return to WWE, and if Amanda Nunes is ready to leave the octagon for the squared circle.
