Ronda Rousey Explains the Differences Working For Dana White and Vince McMahon
Ronda Rousey has worked for two of the most powerful executives in combat sports and professional wrestling with her career in the UFC and new job as a superstar in WWE.
It’s no secret that Rousey was close with UFC president Dana White throughout her career competing inside the Octagon and the two remain close friends to this day.
In fact just recently, White was instrumental in helping Rousey secure her walkout song — “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett — so she could still use it for her new job as a professional wrestler.
On the other hand, Rousey admits her relationship with McMahon is much, much different.
“Dana is one of my best friends and is somebody who I can call up any time and say let’s go for dinner, or drinks or even something completely random like asking him to fly to India, and he’d consider it,” Rousey told the Metro in the U.K. about her relationship with the UFC boss. “I don’t even have Vince’s number! It’s a very different relationship, I highly respect Vince and very much appreciate the opportunity he’s given me but it’s more like, if I can get a handshake from him and him telling me I’ve done a good job, that totally makes my day.
“With Dana, I’d expect him to grab me, hug me, pick me up and shake the hell out of me! If Dana just shook my hand and told me good job, I’d be like ‘what the hell Dana, that’s it?!’ But with Vince McMahon, I’d be like ‘oh my God, Vince McMahon shook my hand and told me I did a good job!’ It’s very different, I have a much more personal relationship with Dana, and a very professional relationship with Vince.”
While Rousey was recruited to WWE by McMahon’s daughter Stephanie and her real life husband Paul “Triple H” Levesque, it’s Vince who still calls the shots on virtually every aspect of the day to day business at the professional wrestling powerhouse.
In fact, McMahon hasn’t really said much publicly about Rousey since signing with the WWE but then again he’s been focused on plenty of other endeavors — including the re-launch of his professional football league, the XFL.
The real test for Rousey in McMahon’s eyes will undoubtedly come at WrestleMania 34 in April when the former UFC champion will make her professional wrestling debut.
