Ronda Rousey’s in-ring WWE debut was a rousing success.
Booked in a match that was designed to showcase all of her strengths, the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion shined at WrestleMania 34, the WWE’s annual blockbuster professional wrestling event.
Rousey was paired up with fellow Olympic medalist turned sports entertainer Kurt Angle to face on-screen authority figures (and real life executives) Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. The bout was a storyline continuation of Rousey’s appearance at WrestleMania 31 back in 2014, when she was involved in a segment opposite McMahon and Triple H again, though that time Rousey teamed with former wrestler and Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
She made her return to the promotion this past January at the conclusion of the Royal Rumble event.
On Sunday, Rousey would actually be participating in her first WWE match and she came out dressed in a leather jacket and kilt in honor of wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, from whom she took her nickname.
#WrestleMania just got ROWDY!@RondaRousey is ready. pic.twitter.com/dQ038j1Eed
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
Angle and Rousey faced off with their opponents, and it was the male wrestlers who would start the show.
This is SURREAL.#WrestleMania @RealKurtAngle @RondaRousey @TripleH @StephMcMahon pic.twitter.com/ASgi49h37l
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 9, 2018
After Angle and Triple H worked for a few minutes, Rousey finally managed to get tagged in and the crowd exploded as she dragged her boss into the ring.
AND HERE WE GO! #TeamRousey#WrestleMania @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/ScNSwhcfKE
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
McMahon played the dummy to a tee, flailing around as Rousey tossed her from pillar to post and even displayed some striking once she had McMahon trapped in the corner.
Looks like all that #WrestleMania training that @RondaRousey has been doing just might pay off... she is DOMINATING on The #GrandestStageOfThemAll! pic.twitter.com/1pwXIFZvti
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
All in all, Rousey’s athleticism and physicality was on full display as she teased finishing the match with her signature armbar on several occasions (only for the dastardly bad guys to continually find ways to weasel out of trouble) and did everything short of bashing someone with a steel chair.
RIGHT where she wants her.#WrestleMania @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/ky8zWiN9Zl
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
This look though.#WrestleMania @RondaRousey pic.twitter.com/1FpdAbg8Zl
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
ROWDY @RondaRousey is PLAYING THE GAME!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/1vBO7aiigG
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
A DESPARATION ESCAPE executed by @TripleH! Is this the turning point #TeamMcMahon needs?!#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/iLGCqTONoz
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 9, 2018
The finish saw Rousey put an exclamation point on her performance by forcing McMahon to tap out to the same armbar that put away past Octagon foes Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano, and Liz Carmouche.
Considering Rousey’s lack of professional wrestling experience, it’s hard to imagine how her WrestleMania appearance could have gone any better.
VICTORY for @RondaRousey & @RealKurtAngle as the ROWDY one makes @StephMcMahon TAP OUT! #WrestleMania #TeamRousey pic.twitter.com/wfT2pden9W
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
Time for some VICTORY HIGH FIVES for #TeamRousey!#WrestleMania @RondaRousey @RealKurtAngle pic.twitter.com/cpFm8Mweoy
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: "You saw it out there, that was her FIRST MATCH... this is what she was MEANT to do!" - @RealKurtAngle on @RondaRousey's #WrestleMania debut #TeamRousey pic.twitter.com/Z65oNTuoVp
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
In the main event, former UFC heavyweight titleholder Brock Lesnar retained his WWE Universal Championship by defeating longtime rival Roman Reigns.
He came out to the ring escorted by his on-screen advocate, Paul Heyman.
HERE COMES THE PAIN!#WrestleMania @BrockLesnar @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/YREM7gqIlx
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
The only place to be RIGHT NOW is @WWENetwork.
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) April 9, 2018
The #UniversalChampionship is about to be decided between @WWERomanReigns & @BrockLesnar LIVE at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/owiuI4Q373
The match was typical Lesnar fare, as the 40-year-old used his ridiculous strength to push opponent Roman Reigns around the ring and execute some impressive suplexes.
We are UNDERWAY for the #UniversalChampionship at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/ECgeJ3uBYs
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
We're now entering familiar territory in New Orleans...#WrestleMania @BrockLesnar @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/9sYjnCWXEH
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
However, the crowd appeared both distracted and disinterested, partially due to their disdain for Reigns and rumors that Lesnar could soon be leaving the WWE to return to MMA competition. The WrestleMania 34 main event also took place approximately seven hours after doors opened at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Lesnar and Reigns went back-and-forth, causing destruction outside of the ring and Reigns was even busted open at one point, giving him a crimson mask that added to the drama.
BACK-TO-BACK SPEARS, but @WWERomanReigns STILL can't put away @BrockLesnar! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/y9z3riUDdL
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
It seems we've left #SuplexCity...and are NOW in #F5City!#WrestleMania @BrockLesnar @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/F86GZfdF38
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
#UniversalChampion @BrockLesnar is on an absolute RAMPAGE in an effort to keep The #BigDog @WWERomanReigns down! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/oD3MXNWMfI
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
Absolute DESTRUCTION by the #UniversalChampion.#WrestleMania @BrockLesnar pic.twitter.com/X6cvCZChx9
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
In the end, Lesnar walked out with his championship after hitting his finishing maneuver, “The F-5” for the sixth time in the match.
It took SIX F5s, including one THROUGH the announce table...but @BrockLesnar is STILL your #UniversalChampion! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/St3BEDXEAc
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
#TheBeast @BrockLesnar has done it AGAIN. #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/7MD8X4DnAm
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) April 9, 2018
It remains to be seen what this means for Lesnar possibly fighting again for the UFC. Company president Dana White recently said that he expects Lesnar to come back to the Octagon, though he did not provide further details.