When Kurt Angle speaks, the wrestling world listens—and he's just dropped a heavyweight endorsement for Ronda Rousey as she prepares for her long-awaited return to the cage.
It's been a decade since Ronda Rousey reigned as UFC champion, and nearly as long since her last MMA fight. Eight years have passed since her unforgettable Wrestlemania debut. But according to Olympic gold medalist and WWE legend Kurt Angle, none of that diminishes her status.
"She is the baddest woman on the planet," Angle declared, recalling their epic tag-team victory over Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at Wrestlemania in 2018.
Now, instead of stepping between the ropes, Rousey—now 39—will step back inside the cage. She faces Gina Carano, 44, on May 16 at the Inuit Dome in Inglewood. The five-round bout headlines a Netflix-streamed card that has fans buzzing.
"And hopefully she wins the fight," Angle told USA TODAY Sports. "That would be a big bonus. But I don't think it really matters. I think her legendary status will always be there, regardless of whether she wins or loses this fight."
The parallels between these two athletes run deep. Angle captured Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling in 1996; Rousey took bronze in judo in 2008. From there, their paths forged modern combat sports history—Angle as a pro wrestling icon, Rousey as the pioneer who transformed MMA.
"She actually made the UFC women's division legitimate," Angle emphasized. "She was the first one. She was the pioneer. She made it so Dana White had to start marketing women."
He added: "She's just an amazing athlete. She really impresses me in everything she does. I'm just really happy for her that she's able to have this fight with Gina."
Whether she wins or loses, one thing is clear: in the eyes of a legend, Ronda Rousey's legacy is already unbreakable.