WWE News: Ronda Rousey opens up about losing her father to suicide
What's the story?
After an incredible showing at WrestleMania shocked the world and solidified Ronda Rousey's position as a huge fan favourite amongst the WWE Universe, The Baddest Woman On The Planet has opened up about the heartbreak that has led her to be who she is today.
After remarking that she's now grateful for her UFC losses, the former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion has opened up about the darker points in her life - including the burden of depression after her losses and losing her father to suicide.
In case you didn’t know…
Rousey's WWE signing made huge news in mainstream media, but it was met with mixed emotion.
She made a huge impact on both the WWE Universe and, the world of mainstream sports when she arrived at the Royal Rumble and put Triple H through a table at Elimination Chamber.
But the Baddest Woman on the Planet truly won over the WWE Universe at WrestleMania when her debut saw Rousey deliver some incredibly impressive in-ring work in what has been described as one of the best debuts of all time.
Things weren't always shining so bright for the former UFC star, though, as her UFC success came to an abrupt end.
After Holly Holm shocked the world at UFC 193 by defeating a seemingly indestructible Rousey, the former UFC star admitted having serious battles with depression and even contemplating suicide..
On the Ellen Degeneres show in 2016, Rousey said:
Honestly, my thought in the medical room, I was sitting in the corner and was like, 'What am I anymore if I'm not this? Literally sitting there thinking about killing myself. In that exact second, I'm like, 'I'm nothing. What do I do anymore? No one gives a s--- about me anymore without this. (h/t ESPN)
The heart of the matter
While Rousey previously opened up about her own personal depression at her UFC losses, the WWE star recently discussed her father's decision to take his life on Hollywood Medium to Tyler Henry.
My dad, he had broke his back, and he happened to have a really rare blood disorder that kept him from healing, similar to hemophilia and it doesn't allow you to clot your blood. And so, for years, he was getting platelet transfusions and trying to put rods in his back, everything.
You can see a clip from the show below.
Rousey revealed the heartbreaking moment her father was told his life would never be the same.
Eventually [the doctors] said you're gonna be a paraplegic and then a quadriplegic and then you're gonna die and there's nothing we can do about it.
The WWE fan favourite recounted the effects of the news on her at a very young age.
My dad decided to take matters into his own hands because he was in a huge amount of pain every day. He couldn't work anymore, he felt like he was just a drag on the family and he was very much like a person who takes care of everyone. And he drove his car out and he put a hose in the exhaust. I was eight years old.
Rousey also spoke about how she coped with the tragic death of her father.
I remember that what he passed, I would just try to tell myself that he was on a business trip and he'd be back. And that was my way to cope with it, but I wouldn't be crying unless he was awesome. He was the best.
Credit to E! Entertainment via Wrestling Inc for the transcription.
What's next?
The full show airs tonight on E!
You can see Ronda on Hollywood Medium at 9pm. EDT on E!
Author's take
It's so heartbreaking to hear Rousey speak about her father's struggle with depression, especially considering the parallels she had spoken about before with her own personal story.
Rousey continues to come across as a classy, humble individual and the WWE Universe has well and truly taken to her.
With the former UFC star opening up about her and her father's respective struggles with mental health, I'm sure she'll become a huge inspiration to many.
While it's a very tragic story, it's incredible to see The Baddest Woman On The Planet coping with everything and speaking about how happy she is in WWE.