Seth Rollins has a theory about Ronda Rousey’s WWE exit.
The former UFC bantamweight champion became one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling after signing with the WWE following her MMA retirement in 2017.
3Rousey found fame in MMA before taking up professional wrestlingCredit: Getty
‘Rowdy’ walked away from the company in 2019 after just two years.
Rousey seemed set for a prolonged second run with the WWE after winning the women’s Royal Rumble in 2022 and picking up the SmackDown Women’s Championship and Women’s Tag Team Championship.
However, she left the WWE again in 2023. The 37-year-old claimed to be retired from professional wrestling, but she has since made appearances in Wrestling Revolver and Ring of Honor.
After the UFC and WWE merged to create a company called TKO, which is worth £17.3 billion, fans assumed they would see more crossover stars moving forward.
Rollins, who is the WWE’s current inaugural World Heavyweight Champion, was recently asked if there are any UFC fighters he thinks are capable of being successful in his sport.
“No, because they don’t have the stamina for it,” Rollins told ESPN.
“They don’t fight every single weekend. This championship goes everywhere. It goes everywhere. It goes to like Biloxi. Especially the top stars over there, they are catered to a certain way.
“That’s great, that’s their style, that’s what works for them, I understand that you fight maybe once or twice a year. You’re crazy if you fight three times a year.
3Rousey has had two stints with the WWECredit: WWE
3Rollins doubts any UFC star has the stamina for a long-term WWE careerCredit: WWE
“To fight over 100 times a year, make all those towns, still be able to train, still be able to do all the media, it’s an exhausting industry.”
Rollins suggested Rousey’s departure from the WWE was triggered by her inability to keep up with the hectic schedule he and other professional wrestlers have to contend with.
He added: “I don’t want to knock Ronda Rousey because I love Ronda.
“She did a lot for our industry, women in our industry, and the fight industry in general, but it was tough for Ronda. She tried her damnedest and it was hard for her.
“I don’t, man. I’d love for somebody to come over and take a crack if you think you can hang, but it’s hard.”
It’s currently unclear what’s next for Rousey after her WWE departure.
UFC fans were hoping to see her back in the Octagon, but Dana White has insisted that one of his greatest legends will not be making an MMA comeback.
