Cormier said Rousey was “cheated” after she submitted her opponent Charlotte Flair at Wrestlemania 38, but the referee didn’t notice and Flair would go on to win the match
Daniel Cormier wasn’t happy with the ending of Ronda Rousey ‘s match at Wrestlemania 38 against Charlotte Flair.
Rousey lost for the first time in a WWE singles match against Flair during their WWE Smackdown Women’s championship match. Former UFC champion Cormier was quick to point out that Rousey was wronged in the finish of the match.
“They cheated [Ronda Rousey]!,” Cormier’s tweet read. His comment came after a finishing sequence in which Flair illegally speared the referee in the match. Rousey then caught her opponent in an armbar which forced her to tap out, but the referee was still down and did not see the submission take place.
The former UFC champion then tried to wake the referee up only to receive a big kick from the champion Flair. She then quickly pinned Rousey as the referee got back to his feet and signalled the end of the match.
Rousey was making her fourth Wrestlemania appearance having debuted at the event in 2015 when she was still competing in the UFC. The former bantamweight champion signed a contract three years later with the professional wrestling organisation.
‘Rowdy’ gave birth to her daughter La’akea last September and made he return to WWE this January when she won the Royal Rumble back in January to set up a match against Flair at WrestleMania 38.
The 35-year-old is considered a pioneer in women’s MMA after becoming the first-ever female to win a UFC world title. During her reign as 135-pound champion, the former Olympic judoka was known for her trademark armbar that she submitted several opponents with. She holds the record for the most bantamweight title defences at six.
Rousey retired from fighting after consecutive knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes and was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She was recently called out of retirement by Julianna Pena, who won the 135-pound title in a shock upset against Nunes last December.
“It would be amazing to pull Ronda Rousey back out of retirement. It would be great to have her come back to UFC and fight again,” Pena told The New York Post.