Ronda Rousey returns to WWE, wins women’s Royal Rumble match

She’s back.

UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey returned to WWE for the first time since 2019 at tonight’s Royal Rumble event, winning the women’s Royal Rumble match.

After entering the match at number 28, Rousey last eliminated SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to claim her first Rumble match victory in her first attempt. 

Rousey originally made her debut as a member of the WWE roster at the 2018 Royal Rumble, appearing after the women’s Rumble and pointing at the WrestleMania sign hanging in the arena. This year, Rousey pointed at the sign as the winner of the match. 

Rousey eliminated Nikki A.S.H, Brie Bella, Shotzi, and Flair on her way to the victory. The final four participants in the match were Rousey, Flair, Bianca Belair, and Shayna Baszler. Flair eliminated Baszler, then Belair, leaving Rousey and Flair as the final two.

Rousey’s first WWE run came from January 2018 to April 2019. She claimed the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam in August 2018, then went on to hold that title until WrestleMania 35. 

Dave Meltzer reported today that Rousey vs. Flair is on the books for WrestleMania 38 in Dallas. Their prior singles meeting came at Survivor Series 2018, a match that Rousey won by DQ.

Rousey, Flair and Becky Lynch headlined WrestleMania 35 on April 8, 2019. Lynch pinned Rousey to win the Raw Women’s title, and Rousey went on hiatus from WWE. 

Rousey and her husband Travis Browne announced the birth of their first child in September 2021.