WWE Smackdown Live star Jinder Mahal recently spoke with MMA Junkie following Ronda Rousey’s surprise WWE debut at the Royal Rumble PPV over the weekend.
On Rousey’s performance in the closing moments of the Rumble, Mahal said, “she did a good job, too. So it’s amazing, and I can’t wait until Wrestlemania.”
“That speaks volumes for her,” he said. “I know she’s a big wrestling fan growing up, and her name comes from ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper. She’s a wrestling fan, and I know she has a passion for the business, which is sometimes the hardest thing, because sometimes people come from the outside and they don’t have the passion for it. It’s just a one-time deal – oh, Wrestlemania – and it’s big paycheck.
“That’s awesome that she’s signed fulltime. Just like she dominated the UFC, she’s going to dominate pro wrestling.”
While Mahal praised Rousey’s potential in WWE, he offered her the following advice if she seeks career longevity:
“You’ve got to have passion for it,” he said. “Other than that, it’s way too hard to survive. We’re in so many cities, the amount of traveling we do, the wear and tear on our bodies – if you’re not passionate about it, you won’t last.”
MMA Junkie