Ronda Rousey recently reflected on her groundbreaking main event match at WrestleMania 35, sharing candid insights into the pride she felt as well as the frustrations she experienced behind the scenes. The WWE Hall of Famer and former UFC champion played a pivotal role in shaping the historic “Winner Take All” triple threat match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, a match that changed women’s wrestling forever. However, Rousey also expressed clear disappointments regarding the match’s build-up, finish, and how much her own presence was integral to making the main event possible.
A Historic Moment in WWE History
WrestleMania 35 marked the first time in WWE history that the women’s division headlined the flagship event. Rousey, Lynch, and Flair faced off in a highly anticipated triple threat match for both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. To WWE fans and industry insiders alike, this was a monumental step forward in elevating women’s wrestling on the biggest stage.
Rousey has long spoken about how much it meant to her to main event WrestleMania, citing her own upbringing during the Title IX era, which helped shape her view of strong female athletes. She recognized the match’s broader significance, not only for herself but for future generations of women wrestlers who could now step into the spotlight and be treated as main-event talents[3][4].
Rousey’s Pride in Making the Main Event Possible
While Rousey is proud of the watershed moment, she highlighted that the match and its main-event status “wouldn’t have been possible without me.” According to sources close to WWE, backstage discussions credit Rousey’s crossover star power from UFC and her relentless work ethic as key reasons WWE trusted in her to carry this historic moment.
One WWE insider explained, “Ronda brought a legitimacy and a different kind of intensity to the women’s division that WWE hadn’t fully harnessed before. Her MMA background and mainstream recognition opened doors that were previously closed. Without Ronda, the idea of women closing the show at Mania might have still been stories, not reality.”
This sentiment reflects Rousey’s own statements that much of the momentum for the match’s placement was due to her push and insistence within the company.
Frustrations Behind the Scenes: Build-Up and Finish
Despite the groundbreaking achievement, Rousey expressed frustration over elements she felt held the match back behind the curtain. She revealed that the match was “thrown together at the last second,” compared to a well-planned debut match she had months prior. Rousey recounted how the finish—Becky Lynch’s controversial backslide pin—appeared chaotic and unrehearsed, describing trying to adjust mid-match in a deafening arena while the referee counted the pinfall[2].
Rousey also addressed the rumored alternative finish, where she would tap out to Lynch’s submission hold, the “Dis-arm-her.” She firmly rejected this idea, citing deeply ingrained personal and family pride. Her mother, Dr. AnnMaria De Mars — the first American woman to win gold at the World Judo Championships — instilled in Rousey an unyielding mentality around submission holds. As Rousey put it, “My mother would disown me. Anytime anyone’s ever arm-barred me in real life, I let them dislocate it but I never tap”[1].
This personal ethos shaped how Rousey navigated the scripted nature of WWE storytelling in this match, insisting that certain spots must remain true to her real-life competitive values.
The Match’s Lasting Impact and Legacy
Despite her frustrations, Rousey remains proud of the match’s legacy and the doors it has opened. The triple threat main event showed that women could carry WrestleMania’s biggest show and deliver a compelling story. Rousey, Lynch, and Flair each played unique roles in elevating the women’s division to new heights.
Backstage, sources report that Rousey’s willingness to push boundaries and demand respect paved the way not only for herself but for other female talents striving to main event future events. One close colleague shared, “Ronda was fierce about this match being taken seriously. She challenged the status quo and wasn’t afraid to speak up, which was essential to make this match a reality.”
Final Thoughts: A Complex Journey
Ronda Rousey’s reflections on WrestleMania 35 reveal the complex emotions involved in making wrestling history. Pride in breaking barriers comes hand in hand with disappointments over execution and creative constraints. Yet Rousey’s impact on WWE and women’s wrestling remains undeniable — she was a catalyst for change, elevating the women’s division and challenging WWE to recognize female wrestlers as main-event stars.
Her candid admissions about the frustrations and her uncompromising stance on issues like not tapping underscored her fierce competitive spirit both inside and outside the ring. As WWE continues to evolve its women’s division, Rousey’s legacy from WrestleMania 35 will be remembered as a defining milestone in wrestling history.