Trump being Trump wants to put his own stamp on the nations 250th birthday next year. In typical Trumpiness he intends to put on tacky, tawdry display of so-called Steel Cage wrestling and UFC matches. On the south lawn of the freaking White House. Gladiator Games, Trump version. Perhaps he’ll brand it The Apprentice – Gladiator? Alas, it’s on and so far the only bigly name that seems to really, really want to be taking part is rapist Connor McGregor. This being a Trump event it figures. However at least one big name from the world of professional combat sports isn’t interested.
Rhonda Rousey is in her late thirties now and has I gather been retired from that world for a couple of years now. She attained fame being the face of women’s Ultimate Fighting and fronted her sport so well it became a sustained thing that has allowed many women a career in that sport. Even a lot of people who aren’t into UFC or pro wrestling (which she moved to) have heard of her. So it stands to reason that since she’s still young(ish) and fit some think she should make a comeback, at least for Trumpty’s bigly spectacle. Rousen is shutting that sh*t down right now. Not gonna happen she says according to Newsweek:
Rousey, 38, is retired, but remains one of the biggest names in the history of the UFC and WWE. During a recent appearance on The Lapsed Fan podcast to promote her new graphic novel, Rousey was asked if anyone had reached out to her about the White House event.
Rousey replied, “I’m not fighting at the White House.”
The linked article says it’s unclear whether anyone involved with the event has reached out to her although it seems to me like they probably haven’t. She is after all retired now for a couple of years, and as we’ll see there’s ample reason for them to not want to have it on record that they tried and got rebuffed which seems like how it would have played out. Rousey herself went on in her comments to make clear anyone harboring thoughts/hopes this could or should happen can forget about it:
Alluding to a potential comeback, she said “After Mike Tyson being in the biggest fight of the year, never say never,” but then added “I ain’t fighting at the f****** White House.”
Rousey was then asked by the podcast hosts why she wouldn’t want to participate, even if she were to be offered. To this, Rousey replied “I got better s*** to do.”
Look, she’d be a big draw. But it sure looks like it would take them throwing a LOT more money than Trump would allow to entice her. Especially since she so publicly backed Bernie Sanders in 2016! Rousey came home from winning an Olympic medal and wound up having to tend bar to make ends meet. She made it possible for herself and others to make a decent living in the fighting game. Someone came along who took away her crown. That’s things in sports. Most athletes keep trying for one more championship and most fail. The list of those who left at the top of their game is quite short.
Rousey is a bit controversial lately because some in the wrestling world think she ‘got handed’ everything. I’m not into UFC, MMA, pro Wrestling etc but even I know how important Rousey was in establishing a new class of competition and making women in combat sports a big deal. When she lost her title and it was clear younger and more skilled competitors would keep her from regaining it she could have walked away and lived a financially comfortable life. Pro Wrestling went to her to milk her name for more ratings and money. So for a while she competed, played the pro wrestling game (and all the antics that go with it I gather) and made both them and herself lots of money.
However she’s moved on. To paraphrase her quote above she decided she had better sh*t do. It does NOT include fluffing Trump. I don’t recall where but I read that when UFC was headed nowhere because no one would provide venues it was Trump that bailed them out. Without Trump the whole thing might, and probably wouldn’t have gotten of the ground and grown into a sustained sport. The interesting part is that White asked Rousey to refrain from making any criticism of Trump!
Well that sure makes a person think. Rousey is smart, capable, talented and tough. And when not fighting but dressed like any normal person rather attractive. One can be certain Trump tried to put moves on her. If Trump tried grabbing HER pussy I’ll bet his hand hurt for weeks after! What’s interesting is that White felt the need to secure a promise from Rousey not to say anything bad about Trump. Even more nuanced was he didn’t secure an agreement from her to ALSO say nice things about Trump!
Well, as I said Rousey pretty much let White (and Trump) know all bets were off back in 2016 by publicly backing Bernie. AND making clear if he didn’t get the nomination she wouldn’t vote for Trump either. She’d vote third-party. That’s another matter but what’s important is that Rousey has known what a P.O.S. Trump is for a very long time. Now, with Dana White having recently visited the White House for discussions about the ghastly event that will be staged on the south lawn Rousey has publicly poured cold water on it!
I don’t know about you but I don’t think her speaking out saying ‘Me? No way Jose’ was an accident. She wants nothing to do with it and it’s hard to think of a better way to shut down speculation. She has a different life now and seems to enjoy it. In short, she’s bluntly told anyone hoping for a comeback, at least to enhance Trump’s Gladiator Games she’s made it clear she’d got better things to do!
