When WWE legend Kurt Angle calls you the "baddest woman on the planet," you know you've made an impact. That's exactly the praise he's heaping on Ronda Rousey as she prepares for her highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts after nearly a decade away from the cage.
Angle teamed up with Rousey at WrestleMania 34 in 2018, where they defeated Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a memorable mixed tag team match. Now, he's watching from the sidelines as his former partner gears up for a different kind of battle.
Rousey, now 39, will face fellow combat sports pioneer Gina Carano, 44, on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The five-round bout headlines a card streaming live on Netflix, marking a massive moment for women's MMA. Carano, who hasn't fought since 2009, was the face of women's MMA before Rousey took the sport to new heights.
"And hopefully she wins the fight," Angle said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. "That would be a big bonus. But I don't think it really matters. I think that her legendary status will always be there regardless of whether she wins or loses this fight."
The parallels between Angle and Rousey are striking. Both are Olympic medalists—Angle won gold in freestyle wrestling in 1996, while Rousey captured bronze in judo in 2008. Their paths then diverged: Angle became a pro wrestling icon, while Rousey revolutionized the UFC's women's division.
"She actually made the UFC, the women's division, legitimate," Angle said. "She was the first one. She was the pioneer, and she made it that Dana White had to start marketing women."
Rousey's impact on combat sports cannot be overstated. She was the first female fighter to truly capture mainstream attention, headlining pay-per-view events and even starring in movies. Now, she's stepping back into the cage against a woman who helped pave the way before her.
"She's just an amazing athlete," Angle added. "And she really impresses me in everything that she does. And I'm just really happy for her that she's able to have this fight with Gina."
Whether Rousey wins or loses, her legacy as a pioneer and champion is secure. But for fans, the chance to see her compete again is a victory in itself.