At Saturday’s WWE SummerSlam, Ronda Rousey lost to Shayna Baszler in an MMA Rules Match. This was believed to be Rousey’s last match for now as she takes a hiatus from WWE, and there’s no word yet on when she will return. In the bout, they tried to recreate an MMA fight with strikes, submissions, and clinching. There were also spots where they did ten counts as they tried to implement the fighting aspect. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that there were some issues between WWE and the two former UFC stars regarding the layout of this match. Meltzer pointed out how there are no ten counts after knockdowns in MMA fights.
According to a report by Wrestling Headlines, there were indeed some issues between WWE and Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler regarding their SummerSlam match. The report states that the two former UFC stars had concerns about the layout of the match, specifically the inclusion of ten counts after knockdowns.
In MMA fights, there are no ten counts after knockdowns. This is a rule that both Rousey and Baszler were familiar with from their time in the UFC. However, WWE decided to incorporate this element into the match in an attempt to recreate the atmosphere of an MMA fight.
Dave Meltzer, a well-known wrestling journalist, addressed these concerns on Wrestling Observer Radio. He pointed out that the inclusion of ten counts after knockdowns was not consistent with the rules of MMA. Meltzer’s comments shed light on the behind-the-scenes discussions that took place between WWE and the two former UFC stars.
It is not uncommon for wrestlers to have input on the layout and execution of their matches. However, it seems that in this case, there was a difference of opinion between Rousey, Baszler, and WWE. The inclusion of the ten counts may have been a creative decision made by WWE to add drama to the match, but it appears that it did not align with the expectations of the two competitors.
While it’s unclear if these issues played a role in Rousey’s decision to take a hiatus from WWE, it is worth noting that this match was believed to be her last for now. Rousey has been a major draw for WWE since her debut in 2018, bringing mainstream attention to the company and helping to elevate the women’s division.
As for Baszler, she has been a dominant force in NXT and has recently made her way to the main roster. Her match against Rousey at SummerSlam was a significant opportunity for her to showcase her skills and further establish herself as a top competitor.
With Rousey’s hiatus and the unresolved issues surrounding her match with Baszler, it will be interesting to see how this storyline develops in the future. Will Rousey eventually return to WWE? And if so, will she address the concerns she had with her SummerSlam match?
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