Can You Smell What Ronda Rousey’s Cooking? Because She Just Joined WWE

Ronda Rousey has officially peaced out from the world of MMA and signed a contract with pro-wrestling organisation WWE.

The former UFC champ is now a full-time professional wrestler, telling ESPN, “This is my life now… this is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt.”

"When I first met with Triple H, I told him, 'There are other things I can do with my time that'll make way more money, but I won't enjoy nearly as much.'"

Rousey, who retired from the UFC after some shocking high-profile losses, made her entry to WWE official at the conclusion of today’s Royal Rumble in Philadelphia.

She emerged to the tune of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” shortly after women’s wrestler Asuka claimed victory in the ring (becoming the first ever winner of a women's Royal Rumble). Rousey pointed determinedly at the Wrestlemania sign before going to shake Asuka’s hand. Asuka slapped it away in a moment of high drama. It was all very entertaining.

Though the one-time Olympic Bronze-medalist hardly needs to expand her profile (she’s already parlayed her sports infamy into film roles and a Saturday Night Live hosting gig), there’s no doubt she required a soft landing after her disappointing exit from the sport of UFC.

Sure, she won’t face as much hardcore competition in the realm of scripted “sports entertainment”, but the WWE will at least give her an opportunity to stay in the public eye without having to suffer a series of embarrassing losses too.

Hey, if it was good enough for Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, it’s good enough for Ronda Rousey.

Anyway, Wrestlemania 34 takes place on April 8. Just FYI.

Photo: Twitter (WWE)