Ronda Rousey’s WWE end could be near.
According to Wrestling News Observer, it is believed the former UFC bantamweight champ is stepping away from the wrestling organization after April’s WrestleMania 35. If true, that means her career as a full-time wrestler would have lasted one year, as she had her first fight at WrestleMania 34.
WWE said in a statement that “Ronda Rousey is under contract with WWE until 4/10/2021.”
Rousey, 31, has talked about wanting to start a family and has struggled with the time at home that the grueling WWE schedule forces her to miss.
“I wouldn’t be leaving home unless it was to do the most fantastic things ever and I really, really do enjoy it and love it, but all that energy I spend on the WWE is energy I don’t spend on my family,” Rousey, who is married to UFC fighter Travis Browne, said in an emotional video in November.
WWE added “whether or not Ronda wants to start a family is a private matter.”
Rousey has been the Raw women’s champion since SummerSlam and was in the main event against Nikki Bella for the first-ever all-women’s Pay-Per-View, Evolution, in October.
Rousey would likely face Becky Lynch, who has become the most popular wrestler in recent months, or Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania. Those decisions will start to become clearer after Sunday’s Royal Rumble.
Rousey suffered her first WWE loss Monday in a tag team match against Sasha Banks and Bayley. Rousey and Banks are scheduled to compete for the title at the Rumble.
Rousey’s move from the UFC to the WWE in 2018 shocked the MMA world even though she swore that she was serious about getting into wrestling.
“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,” she told ESPN at the time. “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.'”
When Rousey made the switch to the WWE, she was the most famous athlete to ever compete in the UFC.
Spending most of her UFC career as seemingly unbeatable, Rousey’s dominance came to a crashing halt when Holly Holm knocked her out with a stunning second-round head kick in 2015. It was the first loss of Rousey’s career.
A year later, Rousey returned to the Octagon to face bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. Once again, Rousey was knocked out — this time in just 48 seconds.
After the Nunes fight, Rousey’s fighting future became a mystery. She seemed to have her sights set on an acting career and starred in the movie “Mile 22,” alongside Mark Wahlberg. She then opted to join the WWE full-time.