- Ronda Rousey admitted that she has become a “people-pleaser” during her prime
- “Rowdy” also recalled how hard it was to be criticized
Before becoming a WWE stalwart, Ronda Rousey was once arguably the biggest commodity in all MMA, having been a celebrated UFC world champion. Now that she appears to have already moved on from the sport she once dominated, “Rowdy” reflected on one of the most crucial mistake she has made during her prime.
Rowdy was a “people-pleaser”
In a recent interview with fellow former UFC champ Daniel Cormier, Rousey shockingly revealed the difficult situation she had been through as a champion. According to “Rowdy,” she became a “people-pleaser” during her peak.
Rousey pointed out that it felt good as she was winning and all. However, it reached the point where she realized that she’s not doing it for herself anymore and it took away the joy from it.
“I think that’s a mistake that I made with MMA,” Rousey confessed. “When I got to that point where I didn’t want it anymore, I kept doing it for everybody else… I think to be at that top level, you kind of have to be a people-pleaser. You want to please your coach, you want to please your parents, you want to please everybody watching. It’s one of the things that make you excel, but it’s one of those things that… it can be an obstacle a lot of times.”
“Knowing when is the right time to walk away, it’s got to be your decision, ‘cause not everybody else is going to come to a consensus,” she added. “And nobody knows what you’re actually going through and what it actually takes… You’re, like, a novelty on TV every couple of months. Whereas that’s your everyday and your reality. And I think setting boundaries with that relationship of everybody else and not doing things for them and doing things for you, even though you won’t be understood.”
It’s hard not to be understood
Shortly after losing to Amanda Nunes in 2016, Rousey officially left the UFC to pursue a pro wrestling career under the WWE banner. As expected, some fans heavily criticized her and she acknowledges it even to this day.
“That was the hardest part — letting go of that need of feeling understood,” the 35-year-old said. “‘Cause no one’s ever going to.”
Rousey has now found a new lease on life in the WWE and as a mother. However, she has opened the door for an MMA return against Gina Carano. Let’s see how it would play out.
