Shayna Baszler says fans will appreciate her a bit more if she beats Ronda Rousey and the former champion goes away.
Baszler turned on Ronda Rousey mid-match at WWE Money in the Bank 2023. In doing so, she cost the duo the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, as Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez beat Rousey to win the gold. Baszler and Rousey have been feuding ever since, and the former friends will clash in an MMA Rules Match at WWE SummerSlam. Dave Meltzer reported that Rousey has a “hard out” date before WrestleMania 40. As a result, fans have speculated that Rousey might be leaving WWE, or at least taking time off, after SummerSlam.
Speaking with of Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Baszler acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Rousey’s future. She noted that Rousey’s plans may have changed since they lost the titles.
“If we had the titles, Ronda’s an athlete, she would have fulfilled the commitments she had. She would have never left had we held the titles for two or three more years. I think with Ronda, it’s very ‘I don’t know we’ll see what happens.’ There’s no title on the line [at SummerSlam], I beat the snot out of Ronda, who knows,” Baszler said.
Baszler also discussed how she has become more of a babyface through her feud with Rousey. She noted that fans love to hate Rousey, and the fans might appreciate her more if she beats Rousey and the former champion does leave.
“I think if I take care of Ronda and shut her up and maybe she does go away I think for a second people are gonna appreciate me a little bit. I don’t think I’m the type of person who’s ever gonna be a babyface face in the way a Liv Morgan is or a Kairi Sane, these super sympathetic [figures]. But I think I can be people’s hero if they want it to be. Am I trying to do that, not necessarily,” Baszler said.
Rousey is reportedly not considering a UFC comeback. More information is available here.
