Ronda Rousey’s SummerSlam Match “Farewell For Now”

Ronda Rousey isn’t expected back in WWE anytime soon.

At SummerSlam in Detroit, Ronda Rousey went one-on-one with her old friend Shayna Baszler in an MMA Rules match. The two women have been at odds since Baszler turned on Rousey at Money In The Bank costing them the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in the process.

Shayna Baszler picked up the win when she put Rousey to sleep in the Kirifuda Clutch and there seems to be good reason for the decisive finish to the bout.

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Sunday Update, Dave Meltzer suggested that despite Rousey apparently being on her way out of WWE, she could return in the future:

“For Ronda Rousey, that was her farewell at least for now. She’s not expected back at any specific date and that’s why she did that finish with Shayna Baszler where she got choked out.”

When did Ronda Rousey join WWE?

The MMA icon first made waves in WWE when she appeared in the ring with The Rock at WrestleMania 31, eventually taking down both Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in a memorable moment.

She made her first appearance as part of the WWE roster at the 2018 Royal Rumble and made her in-ring debut with the company at WrestleMania 34 when she teamed with fellow Olympian Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Ronda Rousey became Raw Women’s Champion at SummerSlam 2018 and she carried that title all the way to the main event of WrestleMania 35 where she lost to Becky Lynch in a triple threat match that also included Charlotte Flair.

Rousey was not seen again in WWE until she made her dramatic return to the company in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match which she ended up winning.