Ronda Rousey Says John Laurinaitis Wanted Her To Use Different Entrance Music

Ronda Rousey long used Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” as her entrance music in both WWE and MMA. “Lots of professional fighters want their walkout song to sound like the ‘Rocky’ theme—you know, regal and inspiring,” Rousey previously told The Wall Street Journal. “I’m more on the theatrical side, so I needed something gritty, with a lot of attitude.”

Rousey originally used the song “Sex and Violence” by punk band The Exploited, but Showtime didn’t seem too keen on it airing over their MMA broadcasts.

“It was hard to choose a new one,” Rousey said of trying to find a new song. “I tried some Rage Against the Machine songs, but none of them felt right. Then my godfather’s son suggested Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation,’ from 1981. I had just heard the song on my car radio in the parking lot of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The song was perfect. If you’re constantly stressing over trying to get everyone to like you, you’re giving them the power to control your well being. For me it’s better to embrace the role of the heel and chase after being disliked. It’s an element of control and leaves room for error.”

During a recent Reddit AMA, Rousey revealed that then-WWE executive John Laurinaitis wanted her to use a different song apparently because of its high price tag. “John Laurinaitis suggested I change it to save money, and I said ‘no ,'” Rousey said.

Jett even played Rousey to the ring for her match at Wrestlemania 35.