Ronda Rousey gets all giddy about "sweetheart" Dave Bautista after surprise collaboration: "I'm forever indebted"
Ronda Rousey has expressed her respect for Dave Bautista (aka Dave Batista) after the 55-year-old actor agreed to serve as the panel moderator for her graphic novel debut at Comic-Con. 'Rowdy' suggested that she's eternally indebted to Bautista, a WWE legend and Hollywood superstar, for devoting his time to promote her venture.
Rousey is a former UFC women's bantamweight champion. She's the first female champion in UFC history and is beheld as one of the greatest MMA fighters ever. The Olympic bronze medalist Judoka later transitioned to the world of professional wrestling-based sports entertainment in the WWE and won multiple world titles there.
On the other hand, Bautista is beheld as a pro wrestling legend. The ex-bodybuilder held the WWE championship and the world heavyweight championship, among other titles, during his time with the organization. He subsequently forged a legacy as a top-tier actor in Hollywood, notably earning worldwide praise for his role as the Marvel character, 'Drax.'
Ronda Rousey made a Comic-Con appearance on July 25, 2024, to promote 'Expecting The Unexpected.' It's a graphic novel created by Rousey with themes of action, adventure, romance, and more.
Drawn by Mike Deodato Jr. (Eisner and Ringo award-winning comic book artist) and edited by Axel Alonso (AWA Chief Creative Officer and former Marvel editor-in-chief), it's a story of an assassin codenamed as 'Mom,' crafted in Rousey's likeness.
Speaking to WrestleZone before the event, Rousey suggested that it was very humbling to have a major star like Dave Bautista moderate her Comic-Con panel. 'Rowdy' asserted that she's extremely grateful. The 37-year-old stated:
"I'm, like, so shocked that he agreed to do this 'cause he was, like, the top of my dream list of like, 'Who do you think can moderate?' And I was like, 'Wouldn't it be so cool if Dave Bautista did it?' I'm like, 'There's no way on earth that he's going to say yes.' And he actually did. I'm like, 'How?' I'm forever indebted to this man."
She added:
"And yeah, I mean, we've met before, and he's always been like, so polite and respectful and a sweetheart. But, I mean, he doesn't owe me a damn thing. And he's like, so in-demand, and everywhere these days, that I can't believe that 'Drax' is coming to my panel at Comic-Con, when he's literally, like, you know, a Marvel star."
Check out Ronda Rousey's comments below (13:46-16:00):
UFC legend Ronda Rousey lauds Dave Bautista for his acting mastery
Dave Bautista recently starred in the animated film 'The Boy and the Heron' (2023). During her aforementioned interview, Ronda Rousey referenced the movie and implied that she initially didn't realize that Bautista was a part of it. Rousey, who's expecting her second child with husband Travis Browne, lauded Bautista's acting prowess and the career he's carved after transitioning to Hollywood.
'Rowdy' suggested that 'The Animal' completely transforms into the characters he plays rather than them simply being an extension of himself. The UFC great and WWE veteran has been focused on screenwriting work and spending more time with her family in recent years. Waxing lyrical about Bautista, Ronda Rousey notably said:
"He really disappears into his parts. And I really feel like that's the kind of mastery that I can only aspire to reach someday." [17:25]