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Ronda Rousey has been an Olympic medalist in Judo, shattered barriers in the UFC, and brought mainstream legitimacy to women’s wrestling in WWE. Now, she’s adding another arena to her legacy, graphic fiction. Her debut graphic novel, ‘Expecting the Unexpected’, has officially dropped, and fans are seeing something rare: ‘Rowdy’ bringing her combat instincts not just to a fight scene, but to a storyboard. The project arrives at a fascinating moment. Rousey recently made headlines by declaring she won’t return to WWE, calling parts of the experience “a sh– show” and explaining she often performed matches she barely had direction for. Yet despite that blunt exit, much of WWE’s fanbase still rallies behind her. Why? Perhaps because her trailblazing run of Royal Rumble wins, multiple title reigns, and breakthrough main-event WrestleMania appearances cemented her as one of pro wrestling’s most impactful crossover stars. And now, that same audience is showing up for her new chapter. AWA Studios hyped Rousey’s creative process with a behind-the-scenes post on Instagram, “Ronda Rousey choreographed all the action scenes in her new graphic novel EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED.” In the clip, she isn’t a celebrity author sitting behind a laptop. She’s throwing armbars, working takedowns, and bumping like she’s back at the WWE Performance Center, all to help artist Mike Deodato Jr., a 2nd-degree black belt himself, nail the realism in each and every panel of action! ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad And the story? It’s pure chaos in the best way. A deadly hit-woman known only as “Mom” fakes pregnancy with a gun-filled belly bump, gets pregnant for real after sleeping with a target, and fights off assassins while figuring out motherhood. Rousey originally wrote it as a screenplay, but under the guidance of former Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, it became a comic. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad As ‘Rowdy’ herself stated in an interview, “There is so much I don’t know about comics, coming into this space, this is my first one ever. I originally wrote it in a screenplay format. And then Axel Alonso, who is the former editor-in-chief at Marvel, he helped me to take that and make it into a comic book script. And we pored over it panel by panel to really hone in on the story. I learned a lot from him, I learned a lot from Mike [Deodato].” Now, with her graphic-novel clip making rounds online, fans, especially those from her WWE era, have shown immediate hype and affection as we now shift our focus over to the online community’s reactions! Despite her reluctance, Ronda Rousey finds herself inundated with calls for a WWE return One fan wrote, “This looks so great.” The visual side-by-side of comic panels and Ronda Rousey hitting her trademark arm bars clearly made an impression. For fans who loved her kinetic style in MMA and WWE, seeing her translate that energy into a creative medium signals she hasn’t lost her edge. It’s also refreshing to witness a celebrity getting physically involved in their art rather than ghost-authoring it. What do you think? Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Another chimed in with, “WWE needs you, queen.” This comment reflects a truth: Rousey’s star power in WWE was undeniable. Even if her run had rocky stretches, she marked a moment in women’s wrestling history. Fans clinging to this hope prove her legacy still echoes in the sports-entertainment world. However, as she mentioned in her interview on the ‘Bertcast’, “So, I’m probably not going to be going back. I’m very grateful for the experience and what I was able to help the women do to get to the main event of Wrestlemania. But, you know, it’s not my circus, not my monkeys.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad “Please back to WWE ronda” another fan begged. Despite her own firm stance against a return, fans are fueled by nostalgia and unfinished-business energy. They remember the WrestleMania main event hype and dream of what one last run could look like, especially now that WWE’s creative landscape has shifted post-Vince McMahon. One user praised the artistry of the graphic novel by stating, “Awesome, man Mike Deodato Jr really make the fight scene with the same energy as real thing.” Rousey’s realism colliding with Deodato’s comic-book flair created a hybrid fans clearly appreciate. When action looks authentic on the page, it’s because someone took hits off camera. Which is where this fan’s reaction comes in, as they pointed out, “Can a stunt man get a tag? Lol.” A lighthearted nod to Rousey’s stunt collaborators wanting credit, and proof of fans appreciating the team effort behind creative projects. And finally, one fan wrote, “I can’t wait for the sequel!” Fast enthusiasm for follow-ups says something big: this isn’t just curiosity buying, readers are already invested as Ronda Rousey may have found a new loyal audience beyond cages and rings! So it clear that fans still chant for one more WWE run and the idea of a surprise comeback will always swirl when someone with Ronda Rousey’s legacy steps into a gym or posts a training clip. But if her words are to be believed, the chapter of ropes and turnbuckles is closed, at least for now. In its place, a new canvas is forming, one filled with judo sweeps, comic panels, and a heroine who fights assassins while preparing for motherhood. Will the return rumors ever fade? Probably not, legends don’t get the luxury of silence. But right now, the spotlight isn’t on a comeback; it’s on creation. And judging by the pop this graphic novel is getting, the ‘Rowdy’ era is far from over, it’s just evolving!
