By Eric Gargiulo
While many observers are excited about the idea of Ronda Rousey wrestling at WrestleMania 32, there is one guy who isn’t. Unfortunately, that happens to be the one guy who can make it happen and according to him, it’s time for the WWE to move to Plan B.
UFC champion Ronda Rousey made international headlines after she got into the ring at WrestleMania 31 and teamed up with the Rock. Most presumed it was a prelude to WrestleMania 32 and subsequential reports confirmed that the WWE is planning a Rousey vs. Stephanie McMahon match at Mania 32. Not so fast, says Dana White.
I think the bigger story behind Rousey appearing at WrestleMania was the UFC giving her permission to do so. White has always been adamant that he didn’t want his fighters getting physical on pro wrestling shows. White was responsible for shutting down a Brock Lesnar return to the WWE while Lesnar was still fighting for the UFC. So when Rousey got into the ring and got physical at Mania, many wondered if White had changed his mind on pro wrestling. Apparently he hasn’t.
White was asked about Rousey's appearance at Mania and the rumors of Rousey wrestling next year in Dallas, Texas. He immediately shot them down and said that Rousey’s WrestleMania appearance was a one-and-done.
“What she did on WrestleMania was awesome. It was awesome," White said. "It came off great, I loved it. Um, she’s a one-and-done.”
When asked if that meant she wouldn’t be involved in any more WWE matches he reaffirmed, “Nope.”
Houston, we have a problem! The problem is that the biggest star in the UFC wants to return to the WWE. Rousey is a big pro wrestling fan and recently told Roddy Piper that the biggest problem she had with her Mania appearance is that she is hungry for more.
“I hit the ground running,” Rousey said. “The first I ever wrestled was at Wrestlemania with an attendance record at Levi’s Stadium. I had a problem when I left. There’s no way I can’t not go back in there again. There’s no way. After experiencing that, there’s nothing like it."
Does the UFC hold the power here? It sure does, but you also don’t want the biggest star in your company unhappy. Rousey’s popularity is growing and so is her movie career. Rousey is an athlete at heart but she is also a business woman and she certainly has enough money to retire or sit out to support a dispute. With Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre seemingly lost, the UFC cannot afford to a rift between its MVP and the president.
My prediction is that Rousey will be at Mania but she won’t be wrestling. Quite frankly, I don’t think it makes much sense, unless she is getting in the ring and beating someone in 30 seconds. We may see Rousey in a WWE ring, but it will come much later after retirement or a hostile standoff with the organization.
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