WWE makes a play for ronda Rousey on back of Brock Lesnar fight

WAS “losing” Brock Lesnar to the UFC just one small step in the WWE’s secret plan to lure UFC superstar Ronda Rousey into the wrestling ring?

Brock Lesnar (L) and Ronda Rousey are two of the biggest names in combat sports.

WHEN Brock Lesnar announced he would be fighting at UFC 200, it seemed like the mixed martial art promotion had pulled a fast one on the WWE.

Now, however, it looks as though “losing” Lesnar to the UFC was just one small step in the WWE’s secret plan to lure UFC superstar Ronda Rousey into the wrestling ring.

Forbes first reported the details of the idea, which included the WWE allowing Lesner to return to the Octagon to curry favour with UFC so the fight promotion would lend them Rousey in the future.

Additionally, the WWE hopes they get the chance to promote their big summer show, SummerSlam, at UFC 200.

The UFC is apparently open to the idea because they recognise how valuable a promotional partnership between the companies could be.

It is unclear when the apparent arrangement was struck between UFC and WWE, but the companies have had a mutually beneficial relationship for years.

Lesnar was an established superstar when he left the WWE to join the relatively unknown UFC in 2007.

Despite going only 5-3 during his short UFC career, Lesnar set numerous pay-per-view records for the promotion, while also providing a level of mainstream star power the likes of which the UFC had never seen.

Brock Lesnar is a genuine star of both UFC and WWE.

Having won the heavyweight title, Lesnar returned to the WWE in 2011 an even bigger star than before having established himself as a legitimate, real-life fighter.

Moving in the opposite direction was WWE star CM Punk, who left the “sports entertainment” world for the UFC in 2014.

Not wanting to get left out of the promotional party, the WWE took advantage of UFC’s and Ronda Rousey’s rising mainstream stardom by getting her to appear at WrestleMania 31, where she briefly teamed up with The Rock to lay the smackdown on Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Now, however, with Lesnar returning to the UFC, the WWE is hoping to get Rousey to make her full debut inside the ring at WrestleMania 33 in 2017.

Originally published as WWE makes a play for ronda Rousey on back of Brock Lesnar fight