RONDA Rousey made a shock return to professional wrestling on Friday night.

The three-time WWE champion left the organisation in October.

Rousey, 36, left the WWE earlier this year Credit: Splash News

The former MMA star is a three-time former WWE champion

She has since been a free agent, but was recently spotted backstage at AEW Collision and AEW Rampage.

Rousey, 36, stunned fans when she appeared at a Ring of Honor event in Los Angeles last night.

The UFC Hall-of-Famer emerged as Marina Shafir’s mystery partner for her clash with Athena and Billie Starkz.

Rousey was introduced to the shocked crowd to her trademark “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett entrance song.

It’s expected that Rowdy’s Ring of Honor debut will be aired on the next episode, due to go out on Thanksgiving.

Ring of Honor is an affiliate of AEW, but it is not yet known if Rousey will sign with Tony Khan’s organisation full-time.

Her last competition within the WWE came in August, when she lost to Shayna Baszler at SummerSlam.

Reacting to her Ring of Honor debut last night, one fan wrote: “IMO, this is a huge W for her and ROH!”

While a second enthused: “I love it! Her and Athena will cook as a program. Ronda will be just fine and will help ROH with eyeballs.”

Last night wasn’t the first time that Rousey has teamed up with her friend Shafir.

In October the duo worked together at the Lucha VaVOOM event in Los Angeles.

Rousey had been sitting in the front row at Mayan Theatre, before getting involved in the action.

The former MMA star has been linked with a stunning return at UFC 300, due to take place next spring.

But UFC president Dana White has repeatedly talked down the possibility.

Rousey starred in the UFC Credit: Getty