After dominating in both the UFC and WWE, Ronda Rousey is stepping into the world of comic books.
Teaming up with indie studio AWA, Rousey will deliver Expecting the Unexpected, an original story penned by the former bantamweight world champion that will blend multiple genres into one kick-ass story.
Announcing EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED by WWE & UFC Champion @RondaRousey & @MikeDeodato. The graphic novel launching @Kickstarter in July sets a new bar for fight scene authenticity as it follows a newly pregnant mom with a bounty on her head fighting waves of assassins. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/vHmtw8Ubcf
— AWA Studios (@AWA_Studios) June 25, 2024
Teaming up with editor Axel Alonso and Eisner and Ringo Award-winning artist Mike Deodato Jr., Expecting the Unexpected is a story that pulls from Rousey’s real-world experience as a mother and a fighter and molds them into one epic adventure loaded with “the most accurate and action-packed fight scenes in comics!”
“Her codename: “Mom.” With a fake baby bump filled with guns, she’s built a reputation as one of the deadliest hit-women on the planet,” the synopsis reads. “But on the verge of her big break in the criminal underworld, Mom makes a fateful decision: sleeping with a potential target (who just so happens to be a top-ranked assassin himself). What follows is a wild mashup of action, adventure, comedy, and romance as a newly pregnant Mom with a bounty on her head fights off wave-after-wave of assassins, falls in love with her baby daddy, and decides how to face her personal and professional predicament.”
The 160-page graphic novel will be available through a Kickstarter campaign launching in late July with a tiered reward system.
“I felt like I had to tell this story because Expecting the Unexpected pulls from the most important parts of my life: motherhood, my career as a fighter, and fun action movies,” Rousey said.
Find out more about the official launch of Rousey’s first comic book right here.
Ronda Rousey Made Her Mark in UFC and WWE
Rousey, of course, is an undeniable legend in mixed martial arts, being the first-ever UFC women’s world champion. During her career, she went 12-2 inside the Octagon with a 100% finish rate. But as fast as her rise was, so was her fall.
After a second-round shellacking at the hands (and feet) of Holly Holm, Rousey wrapped up her career following a 48-second knockout loss to eventual two-division champion Amanda Nunes. From there, she moved on to the world of sports entertainment, signing with WWE and going on to become women’s champion. She also made history during her run with the promotion, becoming one of the first female wrestlers to headline WrestleMania.
Rousey walked away from WWE in 2023 and has since been dominating headlines once again following the release of her latest book, Our Fight: A Memoir.
Look back at Rousey’s impressive collection of finishes in MMA below: