Former UFC star Ronda Rousey reportedly close to finalizing wrestling contract with WWE

VENICE, Calif./STAMFORD, Conn. (UPI) — Former UFC star Ronda Rousey was once at the top of the sport, but now she is turning her efforts toward World Wresting Entertainment.

Two sources close to Rousey told USA Today that she is “finalizing details” for a move to WWE. Her move has not yet been officially announced.

Rousey hasn’t fought since her 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. She suffered her first loss from a knockout in 2015 from Holly Holm.

The 30-year-old has not officially retired from UFC, but UFC president Dana White has frequently doubted her return to the sport.

“I wouldn’t want to see it,” White said in November, according to MMA Junkie. “I wouldn’t want it to happen. I care about her. She’s got enough money. She’s got enough money and all that stuff. I don’t want to see it happen. It’s like Chuck Liddell. I was hearing that Chuck was talking about fighting again. I hope that’s not true.”

Rousey appeared at Wrestlemania 31 in 2015. She also appeared on WWE TV in September, supporting former MMA training partner Shayna Bazsler.

“You name the time, you name the place,” Rousey said in a video for WWE in September, speaking to Charlotte Flair.

Stephanie McMahon, one of WWE’s principal owners and its chief brand officer, told ESPN in March that WWE had not recently had contact with Rousey.

“I would love [to have] Ronda Rousey,” McMahon said. “I know that she loves WWE and we certainly love her. It would be a match made in heaven. Hopefully one day we’ll have that opportunity.”

Wrestlemania 34 is set for April 8 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The WWE also has the 2018 Royal Rumble set for Jan. 28 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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