Becky Lynch has described the first-ever women’s WWE match in Saudi Arabia as ‘phenomenal.’
The Man was speaking in Dubai following Thursday night’s Crown Jewel event in Riyadh where Natalya took on Lacey Evans in yet another historic moment of the women’s division.
Becky is in the UAE supporting the Dubai Fitness Challenge, and was also visiting patients at the Al Jalia Children’s Hospital in the city.
Lynch said of the groundbreaking match: “I think it is phenomenal – what a great step and progression not only in women’s wrestling but for women globally. It is bigger than wrestling. It is proving that no matter your gender, we are all equal and we should all be given equal opportunities.”
Natalya and Lacey Evans embrace at the conclusion of their match.
Following the rise of the women’s division, something Lynch has been pivotal to, these hisortic moments are now becoming normality – something the Irish Lasskicker has strived for.
“That’s what I want, that’s what I’ve always wanted. That is what I have championed from the get-to. Give us a platform and give us an opportunity. It should be equal opportunities, not necessarily equality of outcome but let us prove ourselves.
“Any time we have gone out there, certainly when I’ve gone out there, I’ve proved I can have match of the night given the opportunity to shine. Give me a storyline, I will make the best of it. It doesn’t matter what gender I am, it just matter that I obsess about what I do because I am obsessed about being the best.”
Lynch had spent the best part of an afternoon at the children’s hospital, lighting up faces and giving fans the chance to meet their hero – it’s a emotional part of her WWE superstar role she relishes, getting as much inspiration from the youngsters as they do from her.
“It is absolutely incredible,” she said. “There is not a better thing we can be doing. I’ve said it before, but we play superheroes on TV and then you come to somewhere like this and you realise these kids are the real-life superheroes. They just welcome you so much with their energy and the love in their eyes – you can’t help but leave here feeling inspired.
“Everything they have been through and the strength they have shown and the courage they show, to just be sitting there with smiles on their faces and just so excited to see you, it brings tears to my eyes.”
If you know Lynch outside the ring, you’ll know how important exercise and fitness are in her life – making her link with the Dubai Fitness Challenge the perfect pairing. The initiative seeks to get people engaging in 30 minutes of activity for 30 consecutive days – something the current WWE RAW Women’s champion backs to not only improve physical, but also mental health.
“I do love my fitness,” she explained. “Getting in to fitness changed my life. My desire to get fit is what got me into wrestling. The whole reason I started wrestling is that I failed PE, I wanted to get fit. I was a big wrestling fan but thought there was no way I could become a wrestler. When I set out on that path my whole life changed and a whole new world opened up to me.
If I can encourage people to work out and find some fitness, not only does it improve your physical health, but also your mental health and I think 30 minutes, for 30 days is so achievable, anyone can do it.”
With a lot on her plate, from worldwide appearances, to being the face of WWE, the immediate future for Lynch is very simple – staying number one, with dozens of other superstars desperate to knock her off that perch.
“It’s one thing to get to the mountain top,” she said. “That target is pretty gigantic. Everyone wants the spot, and I have proved everyone can have the spot. It doesn’t matter if you started off doing an Irish jig back in NXT – whatever you’ve done you can change the course for yourself.
“Everybody is trying to knock me off but all I want to do is make sure I have the best storylines going and the best matches – I just want wrestling to be the coolest thing on TV. I know it’s hard to be a wrestling fan at times, I hear you, I feel your pain – but I am going to be doing everything I can to be the best and make sure I stay the face of this business.”
