Former UFC star and Hall of Famer, Ronda Rousey, discusses the impact of concussions on her early retirement and criticizes WWE and Vince McMahon ahead of WrestleMania 40.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star and UFC Hall of Famer, Ronda Rousey, has recently made headlines for two distinct reasons related to her remarkable career in combat sports and entertainment. First, Rousey disclosed that her retirement from mixed martial arts (MMA) at the age of 29 was largely due to a history of concussions, stemming from her time as a judo athlete before she joined the UFC. Rousey, who earned a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and later became a pioneering figure for women in the UFC, discussed the impact of concussions on her health during an Instagram Live appearance. She shared insights into her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts after leaving the sport, and her difficult decision to retire following knockout losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm in 2016. Rousey then successfully shifted her focus to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and pursued various opportunities in the film and television industry.
In a separate development, Rousey criticized WWE and its former CEO, Vince McMahon, in the run-up to WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. Having transitioned to WWE in 2017 and leaving the wrestling roster last year, Rousey used an Instagram post to announce her upcoming book titled ‘Our Fight’ and to express her thoughts on her experiences within WWE. She alleged a turbulent environment and criticized Vince McMahon for the merging of his on-screen persona with his controversial off-screen actions, which include allegations leading to his resignation from TKO Group Holdings. Rousey’s comments have stirred interest and debate among fans as WrestleMania approaches, under the leadership of WWE’s current CEO, Ari Emanuel.
