Ronda Rousey Was Watching Wrestling Instead of UFC 196
On Saturday night, while Miesha Tate was choking Holly Holm out to win the Bantamweight title at UFC 196 in Las Vegas, former champion Ronda Rousey was taking in pro wrestling at an American Legion Hall in Reseda, California.
Rousey, who lost the Bantamweight belt to Holm in an upset last November, was in the crowd at the second night of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s All-Star Weekend 12, apparently unaware of what was going on a few hundred miles away inside the Octagon. Soon after Tate scored her fifth-round victory, photos of Rousey checking her phone – and smiling – in the stands began to make the rounds.
Following her loss to Holm at UFC 193, Rousey seemed in line for a rematch, though her burgeoning film career pushed her return to the Octagon back to November. Instead, Tate stepped in, took out Holm and now holds the Bantamweight Championship. After her win, UFC President Dana White said Tate would defend the title against Rousey; he also added that Rousey “wasn’t watching the fight” on Saturday night. When he texted her with the result, she responded “Looks like I gotta get back to work.”
Ronda Rousey at PWG tonight pic.twitter.com/dmDnZvcegs
— Kyle (@TRKG12) March 6, 2016
As you may know, Rousey is a massive wrestling fan, and has attended Pro Wrestling Guerrilla events in the past – even getting in on the action from the crowd. After making an in-ring appearance alongside the Rock, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31, rumors swirled that WWE was planning to feature her in some capacity at this year’s show – though White eventually shut down the chatter.
Rousey, meanwhile, has made it clear that someday, she’ll get back in a WWE ring. But right now, she’s got to get ready for Miesha Tate.