Becky Lynch: ‘The Title Doesn’t Make Me–I Make The Title’
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Becky Lynch: “That’s what our division needs, more stories that don’t revolve around a title”
Nearly two years have passed since Becky Lynch last wore a WWE championship belt.
To be fair, Lynch did enjoy a run as NXT champion for just over a month this past fall. But since she dropped the Raw Women’s Championship–now known as the Women’s World Championship–to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38, on April 2, 2022, Lynch has been without a title run on the main roster.
And she has relished every moment of it.
“That’s what women’s wrestling needs,” said Lynch, whose real name is Rebecca Quin. “We should all be focused on the future of the industry. That’s bigger than me.
“I don’t need a title. The title doesn’t make me–I make the title. I have enough stories that I don’t need the title. NXT, that’s a place that does a great job with multiple stories with women that don’t all revolve around a title. That’s what our division needs, more stories that don’t revolve around a title.”
Over the past two years, Lynch has wrestled Belair, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Asuka, Trish Stratus, Tiffany Stratton, Indi Hartwell, Lyra Valkyria, Xia Li, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax, just to name a few of her opponents. Highlighting her peers in the women’s division is her objective, a feat she accomplishes with a champion’s mindset.
“It’s doing the work when the work is hard and not always rewarding, but you’re elevating everyone around you,” said Lynch. “I headlined a WrestleMania. I have that experience. I headlined Raw, I headlined live events. When I came in, women didn’t even main-event live events on a consistent basis. So to get in the ring with Xia Li, who hadn’t even had a two-segment match to that point, it’s really important.”
Only 37, Lynch still has plenty of time for more title runs. That could happen as soon as WrestleMania 40, where she wrestles women’s world champion Rhea Ripley. Yet she understands all too well that storylines in the women’s division are often overlooked if there is no belt involved. For the past two years, Lynch has made significant progress in changing that.
“That’s when I do my best work, when I’m overlooked and people doubt me,” said Lynch. “The division needs to grow. Now I can give hopes and dreams to other people, too. Driving the business forward, that’s what this is all about.”
In addition to building toward WrestleMania, Lynch is also sharing her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, with the world. The book is a personal memoir, and it offers incredibly deep insight into her career.
“It’s a big undertaking to read a book or listen to an audiobook,” said Lynch. “People carve out time to read a book, so I needed to be honest. I won’t waste anyone’s time.”
A photo from the book circulated over the past couple weeks, one where Lynch and husband Seth Rollins are wearing no clothing–and only their WWE championship belts. Lynched laughed at the idea that people would purchase the book solely for that photo, though she didn’t discourage the idea.
“There’s a lot more to the book than just that photo,” said Lynch. “But if the photo is the reason people buy the book, that’s OK, too.”
The back cover of the book is full of praise from John Cena, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Stephanie McMahon, and Maria Menounos. Lynch noted that Austin has served as an incredible mentor to her, while Cena was one of her biggest advocates in WWE.
“For somebody like John, who has been such a key part of my journey, to write a lovely blurb about my book, it means a lot,” said Lynch. “John used to frustrate the hell out of me. I can still hear him saying, ‘I don’t know who you are.’ Stone Cold, a legend and all-around gem of a human being, reached out with kind comments, too. He’s always there for advice when I need it. Reading all their comments, it really hit me.”
Lynch was especially nervous about her husband reading the book. Unsurprisingly, Rollins [whose real name is Colby Lopez] also gave glowing reviews.
“It was especially nerve-wracking to ask Colby to read it,” said Lynch. “I value his opinion more than anyone. Would he like how he was portrayed? I couldn’t wait to hear what he thought about it. Thankfully, he loved it.”
The notion that Becky Lynch enjoyed a meteoric rise to global fame continues to leave Rebecca Quin in awe. Sharing the highs and lows of that journey with such passion was a source of pride for Lynch, who hopes her book inspires everyone who reads it.
“Dream big,” said Lynch. “Overcome the obstacles. Achieve the goals you want to. That’s what my story is all about.”
The (Online) Week in Wrestling
The closing segment of Raw, where The Rock beat a bloodied Cody Rhodes, was nothing short of superb.
CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins also made magic together on Raw.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Eddie Kingston last week on Dynamite, crowning himself the new the Continental champion.
Ronda Rousey hasn't held back her feelings on WWE.
This wasn’t the best look for Bill Goldberg.
The Rock and CM Punk both shined on Raw
The Rock and CM Punk were both on Raw this week.
Not to go all Joe Castiglione on everyone (especially the 12 people who get this reference), but can you believe it?
The Rock took a page out of 1999 when he beat down Cody Rhodes in the closing segment of the show. While it wasn't quite the “I Quit” match from the Royal Rumble in ’99, decades have passed since Rock was that malicious and sadistic on-screen. And while most movie stars who return to WWE rely more on their past work rather than creating something new, The Rock's brilliant return has been an exception to that rule.
But before we delve into that, and perhaps this is just me, I still have a hard time processing that Punk is back on Raw. If you witnessed Punk's exit from the company a decade ago, and then subsequent lawsuit, maybe you're also marveling at what you are watching.
Punk was involved in a phenomenal three-part segment. First, he cut an outstanding promo. Then he went back and forth with Drew McIntyre, adding an edge and intensity that otherwise does not exist in pro wrestling (who else would reference Vince McMahon?). That was more than enough, until Seth Rollins brought even more to the moment.
It was decided that Punk will be on commentary during the Rollins-McIntyre world heavyweight championship match at WrestleMania 40. Though Punk was superb on the mic during the segment, it should also be noted that McIntyre and Rollins held their own. It will be interesting to see how Punk factors into their match at WrestleMania.
On top of all that, we were treated to an old-school Raw finish with Rock destroying Rhodes. This felt like a Raw closing from a different era, making WWE creative's decision to listen to the crowd (pivoting from the initial decision to have a babyface Rock challenge Roman Reigns) even more meaningful. Rock as a villain has exceeded every expectation, with cartoonish catchphrases replaced by a vitriol rarely seen by a star of his magnitude.
The moment further amplified Rhodes as a sympathetic babyface, a very tough mountain to climb in the modern era. Fortunately, as Rhodes produces the most compelling work of his career, he is also working beside one of the best to ever do it.
Monday felt like a go-home show before WrestleMania. Yet there are still three more shows to go before WrestleMania 40. After Raw, all eyes are on The Rock and Rhodes.
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