Ronda Rousey has collected almost every accolade an athlete could dream of: Olympic medalist, UFC champion, WWE headliner, and even Hollywood actor.
But even with all of these accomplishments, she says recognition for what she’s done to change the game for women in combat sports still hasn’t fully arrived.
Speaking with Uncrowned (via Yahoo Sports), Rousey reflected on her impact across multiple arenas.
“I think I'm most proud of being able to create a way for women in combat sports to be able to make a living that just didn't exist before,” she explained. Looking back, she pointed to the reality of her early career: “I went and won an Olympic medal, and then became a bartender. There was just nothing I could go to from that.”
Her UFC run shifted the entire conversation. By the time she signed with WWE, the ripple effect was already evident. Rousey helped take the women’s division to new heights, ultimately main-eventing WrestleMania 35 with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in 2019 — a first for the company.
Still, she believes the history-making moments fade from people’s memories faster than they should. “I don't think any woman trailblazer gets enough credit because I think people forget very quickly the way that it was and how difficult it used to be,” she said.
Since stepping away from WWE in 2023, Rousey has focused on new projects. She’s set to release a graphic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, on October 7, inspired by her own anxieties about motherhood. The book started as a single idea typed into her phone during a sleepless night and has since grown into a hundred-page story.
For Rousey, the legacy she cares about now is less about titles and more about the doors she opened. “Women in WWE are getting a lot more respect and making a lot more money. Women in boxing are getting a lot more respect and making a lot more money. And I know that is a direct result from what we were able to do in the UFC.”