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Vince McMahon wasn't initially sold on idea of Rousey joining WWE

Bryan Steffy / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

Harvard Business School's upcoming case study on WWE includes some interesting details about the company's signing of former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

In the case study, which was provided to William Windsor of Wrestling Inc., it's revealed that Paul "Triple H" Levesque had been eyeing Rousey since her time with mixed martial arts organization Strikeforce. It wasn't until several years later that the idea of her joining WWE became a real possibility, though.

"When that second (UFC) loss happened, everything shifted," Levesque said. "That's when the question of what was she going to do next moved to the forefront."

However, WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon wasn't initially sold on the idea of bringing Rousey aboard, as he questioned her ability to make the transition from MMA to wrestling.

"I don't know if I would have gone after her with the same zeal as my daughter (Stephanie McMahon) and son-in-law (Triple H) are pursuing her," he said.

Rousey is currently on hiatus from WWE while she focuses on starting a family with husband Travis Browne.

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