WWE Gimmicks That FAILED The HARDEST Every Year (1985-2025)
4. 'Comeback Queen' Ronda Rousey (2022)
Ronda Rousey only worked as a babyface before she started tearing into wrestling and wrestling fans via other platforms. The former UFC fighter also didn't take kindly to being booed on occasion. Rather than leaning into that role and turning heel, Ronda got a petted lip and couldn't handle the heat. Few were sad to see her go on a lengthy sabbatical in 2019.
WWE tried again by bringing Rousey back for the 2022 Royal Rumble. The 'Baddest Woman On The Planet' won that 30-strong match as a face, lost to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 38, then defeated Charlotte to win the old SmackDown Women's Title at 'Mania Backlash the following month.
It's important to note that none of this played before rapturous applause from audiences. They'd long since made their minds up on Ronda, and her smiling baby routine felt hollow. People could see through the grins, and they knew that it wouldn't be long until Rousey was having another meltdown on YouTube/social media.
A heel turn following her title loss to Liv Morgan over the summer felt like a reprieve, but the good vibes didn't last long. Liv's out of her depth characterisation toiled, and fans were rapidly losing interest in seeing Ronda on top of the division. She was a necessary evil for the writers in 2022, and that'd only heighten the following year.
Rousey never seemed in step with the way pro wrestling works, which is odd. She constantly seemed to be battling against things fans enjoy about the medium, and didn't merit the hard push she received following her comeback in 2022.