Did Ronda Rousey actually attack an official at WWE SummerSlam?

Ronda Rousey has been “suspended” by WWE for attacking a referee at SummerSlam. Was the incident legitimate?

At WWE SummerSlam 2022, former MMA star Ronda Rousey looked to regain her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Liv Morgan. In just under five minutes, Rousey put Morgan in an armbar, but her shoulders were on the mat, and the referee counted to three. Morgan was declared the winner, but there was controversy. Morgan tapped out before the official’s hand hit the mat for three.

Rousey was enraged after her loss, and attacked Morgan. Then, she turned her attention to the referee, putting him in an armbar.

WWE announced that Rousey was suspended and fined as a result of her actions. The news was picked up by multiple outlets, but was the incident legitimate?

Did Ronda Rousey legitimately attack a referee at SummerSlam?

This was not a legitimate incident. Rather, the attack happened in-storyline. Seemingly, it is meant to turn Rousey into a heel (a villain).

In fact Rousey is not expected to be suspended for long. Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio said that Rousey is booked for WWE’s next premium live event, Clash at the Castle, on Sept. 3 in Cardiff, Wales.

“Not that long. She’s booked on the Cardiff show, so she’s going to be unsuspended at least before (that),” said Meltzer, h/t WrestleTalk.com. “I don’t know when she comes back, she’ll be out for I don’t know how long, but it’s not going to be a month, put it that way, because she’s got to be back for the pay-per-view show.”

Rousey made her return to WWE earlier this year, where she won the Women’s Royal Rumble. After failing to defeat Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 38, she ultimately did so at WrestleMania Backlash this past May in an I Quit match. After defending her title against Natalya at Money in the Bank, Rousey lost to Morgan via a roll-up after the latter cashed in her Money in the Bank contract.

On the Aug. 5 episode of SmackDown, there will be a seven-woman gauntlet match to determine the No. 1 contender for Morgan’s championship at Clash at the Castle. The competitors in this match are Natalya, Raquel Rodriguez, Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, Shotzi, Aliyah, and Xia Li.

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