Eric Bischoff Says Ronda Rousey Should Have Never Been A Babyface During WWE Run

Ronda Rousey is gearing up to fight Gina Carano on May 16 in a Netflix-streamed showdown promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions — but according to Eric Bischoff, the bigger issue isn’t the fight itself. It’s how Rousey has been presented in the past.

Speaking on 83 Weeks, Bischoff revisited Rousey’s WWE run and made it clear he believes the company got her character alignment wrong from the start.

“Ronda is a natural heel. She should have never been positioned as a babyface in WWE.”

Bischoff argued that Rousey’s intensity, edge, and legitimate combat sports background made her far more believable as an aggressive force rather than a smiling fan favorite. In his view, trying to frame her as a traditional babyface worked against her strengths.

The timing of his comments comes as Rousey prepares for her high-profile fight against Carano on Netflix — a bout that already carries major crossover appeal. But Bischoff believes leaning into Rousey’s natural persona would elevate not just the fight promotion, but her entire presentation. He also stressed that authenticity will determine whether fans buy into the matchup.

“If they put in 100% effort, if this is real, if they train like it matters and they go in there like it matters, I’ll be satisfied.”

Bischoff warned that audiences can immediately spot when something feels like an exhibition rather than a legitimate contest.

“The audience can tell when it’s an exhibition. They can tell when it’s not full throttle. If it’s full throttle, I’m interested.”

As Rousey steps back into a major spotlight on a global streaming platform, the debate over her character continues. Was WWE wrong to position her as a babyface from the start? And does embracing her edge now make this fight even more compelling?

With the Netflix fight drawing closer, one thing is clear — Bischoff believes Rousey’s power has always been in her intensity, not in playing to the crowd.