On Friday’s episode of SmackDown, women’s champion Ronda Rousey laid out an open challenge. And who answered it was a pleasant surprise. Almost five years to the day of her release, Emma (aka Tenille Dashwood) returned to WWE to take on the Baddest Woman on the Planet. She gave Ronda a run for her money with a couple of her signature moves, such as the Emma Sandwich. However, Ronda would pick up the win over Emma after an eye-rake followed by Piper’s Pit.
IT'S EMMA!!!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zIFqB9uj4m
— WWE (@WWE) October 29, 2022
Emma Returns to WWE to Answer Ronda Rousey
Emma first debuted in WWE in August of 2012 under the Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) banner before it transitioned to NXT. She quickly became beloved by the audience with her quirky personality, iconic dance, and ring work that hadn’t been seen in WWE in some time. Emma and Paige (now known as Saraya) helped bring about the Divas Revolution.
Can Emma shock the world and beat @RondaRousey?!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/YJKurZQ650
— WWE (@WWE) October 29, 2022
She stayed with the company until October 2017 after a failed character rebrand as Emmalina led to her release. Following this, she returned to the independent scene in February 2018. Now known as Tenille Dashwood, she would also sign with and debut for Ring of Honor. She would remain with the promotion through April 2019, when she would take time off to heal an injury. In July 2019, she joined IMPACT Wrestling. While the COVID-19 pandemic kept her away for several months in 2020, she remained with the company until her contract expired in July 2022. Tenille would hold one title in her time with IMPACT; the Knockouts Tag Team Championships with Madison Rayne.
Now that she’s back in the WWE, we’ll have to see what else awaits her in a revitalized women’s division!
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