Ronda Rousey On What She Would Tell Her Younger Self: “It’s All Going To Be Okay”

Ronda Rousey gets reflective.

Rousey has been in the spotlight for the majority of her life. Ever since she competed at the Pan American Championships in 2004, Rousey has attracted attention in the combat sports world. She participated in the 2008 Olympic games before making her MMA debut in 2011. The rocket was immediately strapped to her by Scott Coker in Strikeforce and then Dana White in the UFC. When Rousey’s fighting days were over following back-to-back knockout losses, she transitioned to WWE without missing a beat. 

With the highest of highs have come the lowest of lows. She opened up about contemplating suicide following her loss to Holly Holm in 2015 and has always dealt with media scrutiny due to her attitude and UFC’s favorable treatment. While the pressure of carrying the UFC women’s division may have gotten the better of her, there’s been no such pressure in WWE. Since joining the company earlier this year, Rousey has been all smiles whenever she walks to the ring.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Rousey discussed how she’s able to enjoy the moments in WWE.

“This is different,” said Rousey about WWE Evolution. “I’m able to look around and enjoy the process of it, instead of having to enjoy it in hindsight of like ‘Just do a good job and then you can look back.’ It’s like I’m enjoying every single second of this. “It’s new for me from being an Olympian and a fighter from having this tunnel focus and not being able to think about anything else. I would feel myself becoming a smaller and smaller fraction of my personality as the event came closer because as a survival trait you have to. I don’t really feel like I’m in fight or flight mode all the time. I’m ready to fight but I’m happy at all time and relaxed at all times. It’s pretty different for me to be able to relax and be in a high pressure situation at the same time.”

Rousey headlined the first-ever all-women’s pay-per-view this Sunday, defeating Nikki Bella to retain the Raw Women’s Championship.

Further reflecting, Rousey revealed what she would tell her young self.

“First I would say you’re beautiful. I would tell her it’s all going to be okay, just keep working hard and it’s all going to be okay,” said Rousey. “I don’t think I’d want to tell her that all of her dreams are going to come true because I think the risk of failure is what makes me work so hard.”

On Monday’s episode of Raw it was announced that Rousey will face SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at Survivor Series.