Written by
Alex Hunt• Published 26th March 2024
Ronda Rousey has revealed who was the first choice to bring her second championship reign to an end.
Returning at the 2022 Royal Rumble, Rousey made her presence felt immediately by winning the match and securing a marquee match at WrestleMania 38 against Charlotte Flair. Although Rousey would not become champion on The Grandest Stage, the former UFC Champion defeated The Queen in an “I Quit” match at WrestleMania Backlash later in the year.
Unlike the dominant first reign, Rousey’s time as champion would only last a few months as Liv Morgan used her opportunity as Money in the Bank holder to become champion for the first time in her career. Like many women wrestlers who have held the briefcase previously, Morgan chose to cash in her contract the same night that she was victorious in the ladder match.
Although Morgan’s win was a feel-good moment, there was someone else who was scheduled to win the title for the first time. Writing about the creative process in her upcoming autobiography Our Fight, Rousey was originally told that she would be dropping the championship to Lacey Evans:
“Money in the Bank also marked my first title defense. Natalya was challenging me for the belt, a match she would lose, but then cue the music, the winner of the women’s ladder match earlier that night would come out, cash in, and take me out. “Who’s that going to be?” I asked. “Lacey Evans,” Paul Heyman told me. “That will be so great for her,” I said.
Equal parts Southern charm and in-ring brutality, she had served in the Marines before getting into pro wrestling. Lacey had a baby just a few weeks after I had Pō and was making her own return to WWE. Moms are doing it, I thought to myself. “Does she know?” I asked. “Not yet,” Paul said. “She’s definitely going to get the title?” I asked. “Has anyone told her?” “Wait a week or so,” Paul said. “If nothing changes, you should definitely be the one to tell her. You’re the one giving her her first title.”
Rousey continued in the book and recalled telling Evans one week later that it was her time to be champion, describing Evans’ reaction as breaking into a huge grin and being delighted with the news. Unfortunately for Evans, this was not how it played out onscreen.
Continuing in her autobiography, Rousey revealed that she received a phone call from Paul Heyman shortly after breaking the good news to Evans. Heyman relayed to Rousey that plans had changed to Morgan being the one to win the contract due to Vince McMahon having a change of heart:
“Two days later, I was standing in my kitchen washing baby bottles when my phone rang. Paul Heyman’s name appeared on the caller ID. I dried my hands on the dish towel and picked it. “Hey, Paul, what’s up?” I asked. “So Lacey’s out, Liv’s in,” he said. I was confused. “Lacey’s hurt?” I asked. I had just talked to her. It didn’t make sense. “No, it’s just going to be Liv.” “Why the change?” I asked. “Vince is just feeling Liv this week,” Paul said matter-of-factly.
In any other scenario, I would have been nothing but happy for Liv. We’d made our WWE debuts around the same time. With the exception of Shayna, I was probably closer to Liv than any other woman on the roster. She had more momentum and fan support than anyone. She was clearly the best choice. But I had just told Lacey that she was going to win Money in the Bank and be the champ—and now she wasn’t. All I could think was it would have been better if I kept my big mouth shut. That way she’d have never known.”
Concluding her thoughts, Rousey let her feelings be known when the phone call was over:
“I hung up, throwing the phone on to the counter, immediately regretting it as the noise startled Pō from her nap. I was angry. Angry for Lacey. Angry that WWE had put me in this position. Angry because Lacey probably didn’t even f*cking know and was out there walking around excited about a moment that would never come.
Angry that this old man with our careers and legacies in his hands put no more thought into his decisions than how he was feeling in the moment. Angry that it wasn’t Liv’s years of back-breaking work, sacrifice, hard-earned fan support, or star power that made this moment happen but the whims of a geriatric billionaire who treated us like action figures. Despite the progress that had been made, our efforts were more frivolous than ever.”
Ronda Rousey Praises Defiant WWE Superstar
The upcoming autobiography, which will be released on April 4th, pulls no punches when discussing Rousey’s time in WWE and her experiences with fellow Superstars and top executives. During a media appearance to promote the book, Ronda Rousey recalled an incident where Charlotte Flair defied orders from WWE management.
In another except, Ronda Rousey recalled a spot in a WWE match that was shot down.
Ronda Rousey’s autobiography Our Fight is available to pre-order here.
