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‘This is my life now’: former UFC champion Ronda Rousey makes the leap to WWE during eventful Royal Rumble

One of the worst keep secrets in the world of sports entertainment is out: former UFC champion Rousey will become a WWE wrestler

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Ronda Rousey is set to make WWE debut at WrestleMania after revealing she has signed a multi-year deal with the organisation. Photo: Handout
Nicolas Atkin

Stephanie McMahon had laughed off a question about whether Ronda Rousey would be in the first WWE women’s Royal Rumble match.

“I can’t give away our secrets, you’re gonna have to stay tuned,” she told a conference call.

In what was probably one of the worst keep secrets in the world of sports and entertainment, former UFC bantamweight champion Rousey did appear at the Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia for the Rumble – just not as a competitor in the 30-woman, over the top rope battle royal match.
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“Well I think first and foremost we would have to officially make Ronda Rousey a part of our roster. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s going to happen,” continued McMahon, in a foreshadowing of events.
Rousey has not fought in UFC for over a year. Photo: AP
Rousey has not fought in UFC for over a year. Photo: AP

Immediately after former Olympian judoka Rousey, 30, walked to the ring after the Rumble match to point at the WrestleMania sign hanging in the arena, it was announced on ESPN she had signed a multi-year, full-time contract with WWE.

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“This is my life now. First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt,” Rousey told ESPN. “When I first met with Triple H, I told him, ‘There are other things I can do with my time that’ll make way more money, but I won’t enjoy nearly as much’.”

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