Kurt Angle Was An Influence On Ronda Rousey Before They Even Met

Ronda Rousey is arguably the biggest name to transition from MMA to pro wrestling. She honed her craft and very quickly got used to WWE’s style of pro wrestling. Rousey also opened up about how much Kurt Angle influenced her WWE career.

Ronda Rousey returned during the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event this year. Since then, she immediately made her way to the main event scene thanks to her feud with Charlotte Flair.

Rousey has worked extensively with Kurt Angle, especially before her in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34. While speaking to the Wives Of Wrestling Podcast, Ronda Rousey revealed just how much Kurt Angle influenced her WWE career.

“Kurt was an influence on me before I even met him, as an aspiring Olympian. I wanted to be an Olympic Gold medalist, the first American to win an Olympic Gold medal in Judo. I mean, Kurt was that hero that I had of, ‘oh, one day you could have people look up to you, and talk about you with that kind of reverence that people talk about Kurt with wrestling.’

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In wrestling, people are all like, ‘oh, Kurt Angle, you know?’ So, I wanted to be the Kurt Angle of Judo. Then when I came into WWE and they partnered us up, it was like he’s the only other person who has been in a similar situation like that. Coming from the outside, from other successes, starting your rookie year under a microscope, and the spotlight.

Having him to guide me in the beginning, and not like roll his eyes at me, and all the kind of stuff that I would say or do or whatever. It’s just my inexperience and stuff like that. He was an awesome guide and a teacher,” Ronda said. “I just kind of felt like I was in good hands, and that anything I aspire to is possible. Because Kurt has already done it, and if Kurt could do it, I could do it, kind of a thing. He’s not an alien, I could do it because he did, and maybe I could do more.”

Ronda Rousey is also expected to defeat Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania Backlash next month. We will have to wait and see whether that will actually happen or not in the end.

h/t to Wrestling Inc for the quotes

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