• Reason Behind Ronda Rousey’s AEW Debut
Ronda Rousey’s recent actions appear to stem from issues with TKO following the collapse of long-running negotiations for her MMA return. The Baddest Woman On The Planet had been in talks for over a year to face Gina Carano, with the fight originally planned to take place under the UFC banner on a traditional pay-per-view model.
However, after delays, the situation changed significantly. The fight was eventually moved to a different promotion and shifted to a streaming platform, which reportedly led to changes in the financial terms. This adjustment is believed to have caused frustration on Rousey’s end after spending so much time negotiating under the original structure.
Amid this, Rousey made a surprise appearance at AEW Revolution last Sunday, where she showed up to confront “Timeless” Toni Storm after she defeated Marina Shafir.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Rousey’s AEW appearance aligns with lingering frustration towards TKO. The report suggests that her debut fits into a broader issue over how her fight negotiations were handled.
Rousey is now set to return to MMA on May 16, 2026, where she will face Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, under Most Valuable Promotions. The fight will air on Netflix.
She has also taken aim at TKO, stating that the company made a mistake by not allowing Dana White to continue running things the way he previously did in the UFC.
It remains to be seen what her AEW futures holds as Toni Storm, who she was expected to feud with, will reportedly miss in-ring action for the rest of the year.
• WWE Teases Several Names Who Could Be Talking To Randy Orton On The Phone
WWE is officially leaning into the mystery of who was on the phone with Randy Orton after his heel turn on Cody Rhodes. On this week’s RAW, Orton was spotted in a strange phone conversation where he thanked someone with a brain for reminding him who he really is. WWE’s own website, via contributor Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show, has now put out a list of suspects they think could be the mastermind behind the attack.
Here are the top names WWE is teasing:
The Legends: Randy’s father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, or his former mentor Ric Flair.
The Rivals: The Rock, who has plenty of reasons to want Cody taken out, or even Kevin Owens.
The Wildcards: Big names like John Cena, Batista, or even members of The Bloodline’s extended family like Haku and Rikishi.
The Plot Twist: Some think Randy might have just been talking to himself, because he hears voices in his head.
Whoever it was, they clearly convinced Orton to pull the trigger on Cody during their WrestleMania contract signing.
