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Rousey won't return to WWE full time due to taxing schedule, 'ungrateful fans'

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

UFC legend Ronda Rousey has no plans to return to WWE full time due to the lifestyle and perceived unappreciative fans that accompany the job.

"Whenever I was home, I wasn't even home when I was home," Rousey said on Steve-O's "Wild Ride" podcast, according to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. "I was basically just trying to recover enough to be able to get through the next stint of being gone.

"It was just not worth it for my family. Because we were eliminating all of our expenses and living this lifestyle, we didn't need it. We didn't need the money. So it's just like, what am I doing it for if I'm not being able to spend my time and energy on my family, but instead spending my time and energy on a bunch of f------ ungrateful fans that don't even appreciate me?"

Rousey made her WWE debut at the 2018 Royal Rumble, amid much fanfare. She last appeared at WrestleMania 35 one year ago. Shortly after her last match, she hinted at a desire to start a family with husband Travis Browne.

"I love performing," the former UFC bantamweight champion said. "I love the girls. I love being out there, but at the end of the day I was just like f--- these fans, dude. My family loves me and they appreciate me. I want all my energy to go into them. So that was my decision at the end of the day.

"It's like, 'Hey girls, love what you're doing. I'm gonna try and take all my momentum and push you guys as far as I can - fly little birds, fly! I'm going f------ home!' And that was basically it."

Rousey noted she would consider returning to WWE "for chunks of time" on a modified schedule at some point.

A former Olympic bronze medalist, Rousey ascended to UFC stardom by winning five of her six first fights within one round. "Rowdy" is known as one of the most charismatic and ruthless fighters in the promotion's history.

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