Ronda Rousey appears for WWE wrestling rival just weeks before MMA comeback fight on Netflix
Ronda Rousey will make her MMA return in May live on Netflix, but she appeared for All Elite Wrestling over the weekend.
Ronda Rousey appeared for WWE rival All Elite Wrestling weeks before her mixed martial arts return.
The former UFC champion - who moved from MMA into professional wrestling - is due to fight actress Gina Carano at the top of the bill for Netflix's first ever live MMA broadcast in May, but she appeared at AEW Revolution on Sunday (15.03.26) to appear alongside real life friend Marina Shafir and confront fan favourite Toni Storm.
Speaking after the event, AEW boss Tony Khan said Rousey, who was loudly booed by fans, is welcome "any time".
He explained in a press conference: "Ronda is a really good friend of Marina Shafir, and Marina brought her in as backup.
"Everyone was banned from ringside, so that match was a great wrestling match. I thought Toni and Marina Shafir was a great wrestling match.
"They’re going to have a no-holds-barred fight on Wednesday night, and I’m looking forward to that."
Khan - who is also in charge of the Jacksonville Jaguars and owns the UK's Premier League soccer side Fulham - pointed out that he brought Rousey in to wrestle for his Ring of Honor company in 2023.
He added: "When Marina said Ronda was going to be her backup, well, it’s like, ‘OK, everyone is banned from ringside.’
"But once the match was over, Ronda did get involved, she made her presence known, and then Marina really took advantage of the situation, landed a sucker punch on Toni Storm while everyone was mesmerized by Ronda.”
Meanwhile, Wrestling Observer reporter Bryan Alvarez has reported that most people within WWE were "shocked" to see Rousey turn up for their rival less than three years after parting ways with the company.
WWE has a global partnership with Netflix, who will air Rousey's fight against Carano under Jake Paul's MVP brand.
Former Mandalorian star Carano recently told Netflix: "Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us."
Despite this, she has a deep-rooted respect for her opponent.
The actress shared: "She thanked me for opening up doors for her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen.
"This is an honour. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and I as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive."
Rousey is also looking forward to their fight.
The sports star said: "Been waiting so long to announce this.
"Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history, and we’re partnering with the fighter-first promoter, MVP, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present, and future."
