The Superstars of WWE were dressed to kill at WrestleMania 40 with some unique attires at the two-night supershow in Philadelphia, PA.
At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Becky Lynch opened the show with an attire themed around the cover of her new memoir ‘The Man, Not Your Average, Average Girl.’
After being mistaken for D-Generation X by R-Truth, DIY showed their love for the legendary duo of Triple H & Shawn Michaels.
Given that this show was in Philadelphia, The New Day paid tribute to Rocky Balboa in the six-pack tag-team ladder match. Kofi Kingston wore an attire based on the Italian Stallion, while Xavier Woods’ Apollo Creed-inspired attire also served as a nod to his TNA days as Consequences Creed.
Rey Mysterio wore the colors of the Philadelphia Eagles and included Eagles on his attire. The WWE Hall of Famer teamed with Andrade to defeat Santos Escobar and ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
On WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Logan Paul wore the colors of the show. The Maverick walked into the show as United States Champion and his attire bore the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America..
Paul successfully defended his title against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. The Prizefighter once again wore a shirt based that referred to how many WrestleManias he’s competed at, which declared that the show was KO-Mania 8. Given that the show was in Philadelphia, it was fitting that Owens wore ECW-themed trunks for the match.
Owens didn’t just represent ECW with his ring attire. The Prizefighter’s entrance also served as a nod to the extreme promotion that went under in 2001.
Bayley walked into her Women’s Championship match with IYO SKY with an Egyptian-themed attire and entrance. As Corey Graves explained on commentary, Rosicrucian Park in Bayley’s native San Jose hosts an Egyptian museum.
Speaking at the post-WrestleMania 40: Saturday press conference, Ripley reflected on her victory over one of the most decorated women in WWE history.
“It feels bloody fantastic to say the least. Look, I went out there with one of the best in this federation, Becky Lynch. And to be able to step toe-to-toe with her and bring the fight to her, it meant the absolute world to me. And to be able to have it at the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania XL, the largest WrestleMania there is, it’s very, very special. And not only that, but to have Motionless in White be there too, everything sort of came together for Mami and I proved once again that Mami is always on top.”
WWE sold out the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for WrestleMania 40. This was an epic show, and they kicked things off with a Women’s World Title match.
Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch opened up WrestleMania 40 with their Women’s World Title match. The crowd was hot and ready to go, and they got an impressive opening match in the process.
After a grueling contest, Rhea Ripley defeated Becky Lynch to retain the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. This will continue her reign as she carries on with over a year as champion.
At one point, mid-way through the match, Lynch nailed the Man-Handle Slam, but Ripley kicked out at two. Then, Rhea Ripley nailed a Riptide, but Becky Lynch kicked out in return. After they kicked out of each other’s finishers, things picked up even more.
Ripley was eventually caught in the Dis-Arm-Her, but she lifted Lynch up, and they went tumbling over the top rope to the outside with an electric chair drop. Becky kicked out after a massive frog splash from Ripley when they returned to the ring, and the two continued until she nailed Lynch with a Riptide onto the turnbuckle, followed by a second in the middle of the ring for the win.
Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth to get this title shot. Rhea Ripley’s championship reign was at 371 days as she walked into the showcase of the immortals.
Special WrestleMania 40 Entrances
Both Ripley and Lynch received special entrances. The Man’s entrance was themed around her book, “Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl.”
Unfortunately for Lynch, she won’t be feeling her best when she performs inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. During a Q&A session with the media, Lynch shared that she is under the weather and will be battling a cold when she steps in the ring with the ‘Mami’ of the Judgment Day.
Lynch isn’t the only WWE Superstar who isn’t facing the best of luck going into WrestleMania 40. The tour bus of Cody Rhodes recently caught fire but everyone involved is thankfully safe and okay. Rhodes will compete on both nights of WWE WrestleMania 40.
A Special WrestleMania Entrance
During the Q&A, Lynch also disclosed some information about her entrance for WrestleMania 40. The Man said that her new book ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ will be factored into her entrance somehow. This will be a huge marketing opportunity for Lynch.
Dear loyal sheep, I did everything in my power to get my dream Wrestlemania entrance. But due to scheduling, it isn’t in the stars this year. Someday! So until then….Enjoy the official #Bayley vs #IYOSKY Mania hype video ft ‘Simmer’ by Hayley Williams. Thank you @paramore@WWEpic.twitter.com/P4WZSu9H9I
Becky Lynch has achieved yet another remarkable feat as her memoir, “Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl,” secured a spot on this week’s New York Times Best Sellers list.
Lynch’s autobiography ranked third in the combined print and e-book nonfiction category and fourth in the hardcover nonfiction category. The 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber winner can now add best-selling author to her already impressive resume.
WWE joined in the celebration, extending their congratulations to Lynch via a tweet. They are obviously very proud that The Man’s book was so well-received.
Leading up to the release of her memoir on March 26, Lynch embarked on a media tour to promote the book. That included a book signing events across seven different cities.
Published by Gallery Books, which is a division of Simon & Schuster, Lynch’s memoir covers her journey in pro wrestling from her earliest days through her humble beginnings to her ascent to stardom.
Becky Lynch is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40. The two will reportedly open up the two-night event, which is a match placement that Lynch wanted in the first place.
Becky Lynch is happy to see Mercedes Mone doing her thing and having a good time in All Elite Wrestling. There’s no hard feelings over the former Sasha Banks jumping to AEW. In fact, Lynch says we could see them back in the ring together one day. She didn’t specify if that would take place in WWE or elsewhere.
Lynch is doing the media rounds this week to promote her championship match against Rhea Ripley this weekend at WrestleMania 40. During a chat with Shakiel Mahjouri for Shak Wrestling, she expressed excitement for her former rival.
“Good for her,” Lynch said of Mone in AEW. “Go on, do your thing and have a good time over there.”
She added, “Maybe one day, we’ll meet back in the ring.”
Lynch and Mone have a fair share of history as they led the famous Women’s Revolution in WWE. They’ve faced each other in handful of matches, most prominently a Hell in A Cell match for the Raw Women’s title back in 2019.
Sasha Banks left WWE in 2022. She reinvented herself as Mercedes Mone, achieved success wrestling in Japan before her recent arrival in AEW.
Lynch’s Future
Becky Lynch’s star has steadily risen over the past several years. She’s cemented herself as one of the top sports entertainers in the world, which puts her in a great position for when her WWE contract expires in the next few months. She could test the waters of free agency.
WWE has been her home, but Tony Khan has shown he’s more than willing to shell out huge money to lure stars like Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada to AEW. They’re all making millions working a schedule that requires far less time on the road than WWE requires.
Becky Lynch has “done it all” in WWE, but she will soon have a chance to explore other options.
Becky Lynch is pleased to have made amends with Charlotte Flair, and has said there’s nothing but love between herself and ‘The Queen.’
Lynch and Flair were once as close as sisters but their relationship soured during their time on the main roster. Lynch and Flair began growing distant when they were sent to different brands during the 2016 draft, and the 2018 feud between them would also cause genuine friction between the two.
It’s All Love
At WWE Survivor Series 2023, Lynch would return from a hiatus as part of Bianca Belair’s team inside WarGames. Her return would see Lynch team with Flair and the pair would embrace after the match.
Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, Lynch addressed her relationship with Flair. The Man was pleased that she is currently in a better place with her fellow former WWE Women’s Champion.
“She’s been a huge part of my journey in every capacity and such an important part. As best friends, then enemies, and the fallout. I talk about that [in my memoir] from my perspective, but also the undercurrent of all of it is love, right?
“It’s always the people that you love the most that maybe hurt you the most. I know I’ve hurt her and it’s been reciprocal but I think when you can come back from all of that, that’s a special thing. I love that.”
The 2021 Title Exchange
In 2021, Lynch and Flair were part of a title exchange that did not go as planned. Rather than the intended exchange, Flair dropped the title she was meant to hand to Lynch, forcing the Man to bend down and pick it up. In her new memoir The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl, Lynch recalls being furious backstage.
“I felt she deliberately went off script, leading to me yelling in gorilla that she was a, to use my exact words, “crafty fu*king cu*t” right in front of Vince.”
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Rhea Ripley’s recent activities at WWE live events may have proven popular with fans, but Becky Lynch believes they are beneath a female Superstar.
At a recent live event, Ripley defended her Women’s World Championship in a triple-threat match against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. During the match, Jax attempted to hit a stinkface on Ripley but the Aussie escaped and hit a stinkface on Jax. This spot immediately went viral online and Baszler herself would want to get in on the action the following night.
Becky Lynch Isn’t Impressed
While the spot has proven popular with fans, Becky Lynch has questioned the message these stinkfaces are sending. Speaking recently to Wrestling News, Lynch said that it “sucks” that this spot is what people are talking about mere days ahead of WrestleMania. Lynch, a mother to a baby girl, pondered what some in the audience may have been feeling.
“It’s edgy. But if I’m a little girl sitting in the crowd, or if I have my daughter, and she’s seeing that and she’s thinking that that’s what she needs to be if she’s a professional wrestler.”
Lynch added that for years, women had to fight to be acknowledged for more than just titillation, a fight that she feels Ripley is undoing with spots like the stinkface.
“When I think of the amount of women that were at one stage, fighting against that treatment… Maybe I’m just like stuffy and and jaded because this is the stuff that I had to fight against.”
What’s to Come?
Lynch and Ripley will face off next weekend at WrestleMania 40 for the WWE Women’s World Championship. This will be Ripley’s fifth consecutive championship match at WrestleMania and her second time defending a title. For Lynch, it’ll be her fifth championship match and her third time challenging.
Recently, Becky Lynch’s memoir ‘The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl‘ hit shelves, and has proven to be a gripping read for wrestling fans and casual readers alike.
In the book, she writes candidly about her life in and outside of the ring. She shares unpleasant aspects of her journey, including insecurities that have made her feel cowardly at times.
Here’s a link to some prominent Becky Lynch book reviews, followed by our five takeaways from reading Becky Lynch’s new book, The Man: Not Your Average, Average Girl.
She Wasn’t a Fan of WWE Evolution
In 2018, WWE held its first (and to date, only) all-female Premium Live Event. WWE Evolution was quite the show and saw Lynch retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match.
While Lynch considers the match one of her favorites, the show concept itself did not sit right with her. Lynch writes how WWE would never promote an event being an all-men show, so to do so with the women’s roster seemed like the opposite of equality. Lynch was also not a fan of the ending of WWE Evolution, which saw all the women come out on stage, something else the company wouldn’t do for the men.
She Didn’t Like the Look of Finn Balor at First
Finn Balor (or Fergal) plays a huge role in Lynch’s memoir, as her trainer and a long-term boyfriend. Even after splitting, the pair remained close in a friendship that lasts to this day.
Despite this, Becky was far from impressed when she first saw Balor in promotional material for a wrestling school, as she told her brother:
“That Fegal lad looks like a real douchebag.”
Who, me?
Upon meeting Balor in person, Lynch would realize the handsome good looks of WWE’s first Universal Champion and it wouldn’t be long before the pair became an item.
She Struggled With Confidence for a Long Time
In her memoir, Becky doesn’t hold back on her feelings of inadequacy in her youth, but these feelings extended long into her WWE career. While many would see being hired by WWE as the definition of ‘making it’ Lynch continued to feel like she was always on the cusp of being let go.
Becky Lynch in NXT during the early years of her WWE run
Even after making it to the main roster, Lynch writes about feeling like she’s not enough, and feared being pulled from the WrestleMania 32 Women’s Triple Threat at the last minute. Even as the first SmackDown Women’s Champion, Lynch’s doubts didn’t go away, proof that mental health issues can affect us all.
She Was Engaged & Didn’t Want to Be
Becky Lynch has been married to Seth Rollins for some time now and the pair have a lovely young daughter in Roux. Years earlier though, Lynch would be engaged to somebody else, but hated that she was. From the start of the relationship, Lynch knew this man was not right for her, but she felt like she needed something outside of wrestling, in which she was struggling at the time.
A self-professed “f***ing coward” Lynch said yes when the man in question popped THE question on a Ferris wheel and did her best to hide the news of their engagement from friends and family. Lynch did tell Rollins, who had only weeks earlier listened as she spoke about not wanting to be with this guy. Wearing an engagement “ring of sadness” was not easy for Lynch, who eventually broke things off via text after a fight with her fiance.
She Knew Her 2018 Charlotte Feud Wouldn’t Work
In 2018, Lynch turned ‘heel’ after Charlotte Flair won the SmackDown Women’s Championship at that year’s SummerSlam, or at least that was the idea. The fans rallied behind the plucky Lynch and therefore rejected the second-generation wrestler who many had felt had been handed opportunities others should have been given.
Lynch knew from the get-go that this story wouldn’t work and constantly brought this up to management. Despite her pleas, Lynch was put on TV to cut generic heel promos, berating fans for never really supporting her, when they had all along. Even having Lynch berate the then-retired Edge did nothing to make fans boo her. While WWE eventually relented, Lynch’s 2018 heel run wasn’t easy or fulfilling for The Man.
Becky Lynch is letting it be known (again) that she could be a free agent within a matter of weeks.
WWE signed several top stars to new contracts back in 2021, in response to competitor All Elite Wrestling demonstrating a willingness to shell out big money to land top talent. Many of those contracts were 3-year deals and are set to expire this year.
Lynch’s ongoing book tour stopped in Washington D.C. on Thursday night and SEScoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm was on hand to capture this video:
Former World Champions such as Adam Copeland and Mercedes Mone have decided leave WWE for AEW and others could follow suit.
Becky Lynch appeared on The MMA Hour podcast on Monday and told Ariel Helwani that she’s in the final two months of her WWE contract. Additionally, Lynch divulged that she and WWE have yet to begin discussions regarding a new agreement.
Lynch, who won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match, will challenge Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Championship next weekend at WrestleMania 40.
More WWE Contracts Expiring Soon
In addition to Becky Lych, several other top-tier wrestlers could also be free agents in the months ahead, including Seth Rollins, Finn Balor and Drew McIntyre.
You can read more about each of those situations here:
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Thursday, March 28. Fans had a packed episode of AEW Dynamite last night, and we’re less than 10 days from WrestleMania 40. It’s an exciting time to be a pro wrestling fan, so let’s get right into it!
Days Until WrestleMania 40: 9
WWE:
– Punk Goes Off-Script: I was able to confirm that CM Punk’s line where he referenced Vince McMahon naming Drew McIntyre “The Chosen One” was improvised.
As if this needed to be said, but I have been able to confirm that CM Punk's reference to Vince McMahon on RAW this week was 100% improvised. pic.twitter.com/1LgbP7A8QF
– Sami Zayn Merch: WWE released a new t-shirt for Zayn ahead of WrestleMania 40. His new merchandise highlights how he is the #1 contender for GUNTHER’s IC Title. You can click here to see what they have to offer.
– Tony Hawk is All Elite: Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk appeared on AEW Dynamite this week alongside Darby Allin. They were there to plug a charity that he’s involved with that builds skate parks.
– Double or Nothing 2024: AEW announced during Dynamite that on Sunday, May 26, they will host Double or Nothing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena once again.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
Ronda Rousey has not been shy about spreading her opinion on WWE since her exit from the company. Likewise, Becky Lynch has a firm opinion on the former Women’s Champion as well. The Man recently stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she entered WWE, and she was mishandled after that.
Becky Lynch stated that Ronda Rousey couldn’t wrestle when she made her way to WWE. Lynch suggested that Rousey was given special treatment and not given sufficient time to develop her wrestling craft before being pushed into the spotlight.
The Man Speaks on the Baddest Woman on the Planet
While speaking to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Becky Lynch opened up about Ronda Rousey. She said that the Baddest Woman on the Planet couldn’t wrestle. The company only placed her in a position where she was protected, but it was not “off to the races” as many perceived at the time following Rousey’s in-ring debut.
“I mean this with respect, but she couldn’t wrestle. Like, what we do isn’t just something that you can have one good match and then, okay, yeah, I’m off to races. It’s a craft and you have to learn your craft. And you have to be diligent about learning your craft. But everybody treated Ronda like she already knew it because when she first came in she was good in that first bout, but she was working with Kurt Angle, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon — it was a well-rehearsed match, because everyone wanted her to have a good first match. Then it was like, ‘okay she can do this it’s off to the races,’ and that was mishandling her.”
Becky Lynch: I mean this with respect, but she couldn't wrestle. Like, what we do isn't just something that you can have one good match and then, okay, yeah, I'm off to races. It's a craft and you have to learn your craft. And you have to be diligent about learning your craft.… pic.twitter.com/EWLvwlTSej
Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch were supposed to have a match at Survivor Series in 2018, but that didn’t happen. Nia Jax famously broke Lynch’s face before the match, creating an eternal meme in the process, but it took The Man out of that match, where Charlotte Flair had to take her spot.
At WWE WrestleMania 35, Becky Lynch won a historic Triple Threat match for both the WWE RAW Women’s Title and the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title. She faced off against Charlotte Flair, who held the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and Ronda Rousey, who was the RAW Women’s Champion. This was the first-ever women’s main event in Mania history as well.
Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey never got their one-on-one match against Ronda Rousey. At this point, it does not seem likely that the contest will ever get booked.
The Man’s Future in WWE
Becky Lynch admitted that her deal with WWE expires in two months. We will have to see what she does next, but The Man admitted that she is not concerned about her current situation.
WWE has a few interesting contract situations, but the even more fascinating part is that new deals have yet to be signed for some top talent. This may give fans a look at how TKO Group Holdings will handle these contract renewals.
Becky Lynch has not inked a new deal with WWE yet, and she recently confirmed that her current contract runs out in a matter of months. If The Man doesn’t ink a new agreement with WWE, then she may be a free agent in two months’ time.
Becky Lynch Speaks on WWE Contract Status
Lynch joined The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani as a guest on Wednesday, where she disclosed that she’s in the last two months of her existing contract with WWE. She mentioned that discussions regarding a contract extension have yet to commence.
Though Lynch largely evaded Helwani’s inquiry about her contract, she expressed skepticism that this would be her final WrestleMania. Lynch is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.
Becky Lynch says she has two months left on her current deal with WWE.
Helwani inquired if Lynch has the liberty to converse with non-WWE companies, as he asked, “Can you engage with others?”
“Ahhh…I’m with WWE,” Lynch replied. Then Helwani followed up with, “So it’s WWE or nothing?”
“Yeah, I’m uncertain,” Becky Lynch finally replied. She also admitted that it is not common for her not to have a new deal, with her current agreement expiring in a matter of months.
Then, Ariel Helwani asked her if she feels offended by the idea that she doesn’t have a new deal in front of her. The Man replied honestly to his point.
At this stage in the game, contrary to a lot of the thoughts in this book of where I was coming up, I am so confident in my ability and my worth. Nah, I’m not worried.
Other WWE Contract News
In other contract news, Drew McIntyre is reportedly telling people that he has no new deal with the company either. The Scottish Warrior is set to battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 40.
WWE has several contracts running up this year, because they inked so many Superstars to new contracts in 2021, and now those deals are coming up. We will have to see how TKO Group Holdings handles these new contract situations, but it will be very interesting to see what kind of precedent they set.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from the pro wrestling world, so please keep checking back for more updates.
WWE fans rejoiced last year when friends turned rivals Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair teamed up in a Wargames Match at WWE Survivor Series. For a few years, their relationship was strained and evident when they both were on TV. However, Lynch and Flair were able to reconcile and appear to be on better terms lately.
In her new book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl, Lynch discusses her relationship with Flair from her perspective. She also discussed their fallout and reconciliation in depth in a recent interview with Adam Silverstein of Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast.
Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair at WWE Survivor Series Press Conference
Lynch was asked about how they repaired their friendship and her thoughts on where she stands with her currently. Lynch replied that despite their issues, they still loved each other and would’ve been there for each other in bad times. She also noted the passing of her peers like Bray Wyatt and put into perspective that life is too short to hold on to past issues.
“…Having that hostility towards somebody kind of weighs on you, you know what I mean? I think life is too short for that and we witnessed that. We’ve seen the tragic passing of people that went far too young, like Bray Wyatt, like Luke Harper, and other friends who passed away that were very close to me in the last few months too, and so all of those things I think as you grow and mature you realize that these petty differences aren’t worth the toxicity it leaves in you and the weight that it carries,” said Lynch.
She also confirmed that the interactions fans saw from them at the WWE Survivor Series were genuine and that they reconciled.
More On Becky Lynch’s New Book
Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is available on Amazon and other platforms in hardcover, digital, and audio. Her peers, including her husband, Seth Rollins, Stephenie McMahon, and John Cena, have praised the book.
One of the notable praises comes from Mick Foley, who helped inspire her to write a memoir.
Amazon shared and transcribed Foley’s thoughts on her book on their website.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read. Actually, it was equal parts, honor and pleasure; Becky allowed me in on the ground floor of her creative process, and I read with great joy as she found her voice as a writer. I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”
Lynch’s rollout of her new book seems to be going very well as she explores a new career venture. The hope is that she will add becoming a New York Times Best-Selling Author to her many accomplishments over the years.
Mercedes Mone is just starting to make her mark in AEW, but she’s been under contract for a few months already. Tony Khan has also been cutting her some very large checks in the process.
Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but The Man is happy for The CEO’s new deal. She recently commented to say that the important part of the whole thing is that women are getting paid equally to their male counterparts.
Lynch Reacts To Mone’s Big Money Deal
Mercedes Mone’s new deal with AEW is a substantial one. In fact, she shattered the glass ceiling, and it’s now said that she is the highest-paid woman in the pro wrestling business.
While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Becky Lynch touched on Mercedes Mone’s new AEW contract. She said that the important part is that women are getting paid on a higher level. Mercedes’ new deal is certainly proving that to be the case.
“I think that’s an important part, getting paid equally for the equal work and the equal position we are at right now,” Lynch said. “Women’s evolutions and revolutions are fine and well, but making sure that they equate to contracts and financial reward for these things when we are doing equal work, is hugely important.”
Mercedes Mone also said that she envisions herself going back to WWE someday. She said that prior to her AEW debut, but she was still under contract. That comment ruffled some feathers within AEW. Tony Khan has since endorsed Mercedes as a possible face of AEW.
WWE fans have been enjoying the direction the company has been going under the creative leadership of Paul Levesque(AKA Triple H). For years. the company has faced issues like plans being changed during a TV episode to the last minute with Vince McMahon at the helm. However, creativity has seemingly run more smoothly with Levesque in charge, and superstars like Becky Lynch appreciate the shift.
Paul Levesque(Triple H) and Vince McMahon Backstage
In an interview with Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast, ‘The Man’ discussed the differences in WWE creative under Levesque and McMahon. She shared that consistency is the main factor and praised the former nine-time WWE Champion for his long-term storytelling.
“…Paul tends to have a long-term vision of something and an idea of something and then executes, whereas before, you know, it was notorious that the show was being rewritten as it was going, and we were live on TV, and people didn’t know what was happening in the third hour and there would be stories that would start and then Vince would change his mind and so with Paul, he sees things through and for better or worse that gives a different viewing experience,” said Lynch.
‘The Man’ also explained why it’s important to let storylines develop over time as intended rather than nixing them altogether.
“…You might not like the story on week two, but you don’t know where it’s going on week four, and so if we listen to people that saying ‘Yeah, but we don’t like the story on week two,’ well then you might never get the magic that you were going to get on week four, and so I think it’s important to listen to the audience to a certain degree,” said Lynch.
More On Becky Lynch’s Thoughts On Storytelling
Lynch went into detail about storytelling and why letting things play out as intended over time is good. The former WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion used herself as an example from when she was feuding with Bianca Belair and defeated her in 26 seconds at WWE SummerSlam on August 21, 2021.
She noted that the fans didn’t like some of the ‘heel’ things she did during her rivalry and that it was meant to elicit negative reactions.
“…You were meant to be outraged. You were meant to want to see her succeed, and then I think I started talking about her hair, and people were outraged that I might touch her hair,” said Lynch. She continued, “…If you don’t know where we are going… also, I am a heel. You are meant to be outraged by the things that I do, and please understand that is a heel. Heel isn’t like somebody that gives cool zingers. It is somebody that is unlikable that you want to see the babyface overthrow. Doesn’t always work out.”
Lynch reaffirmed her stance that it is good to see things through, which is something that WWE is doing more under Levesque’s leadership. It seems WWE creatively is in a better place than it has been for their talent and fans. Hopefully, the company’s momentum will continue and allow for more creative storytelling that can make for great weekly TV programming.
Vince McMahon resigned from WWE, and he hasn’t been mentioned on television since the bombshell allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public. Everyone had their own reaction to the situation, as they processed all of these alleged acts coming to light.
Becky Lynch said that the Vince McMahon she knew was like a grandfather. The allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit makes it hard to connect those heinous things and the McMahon she knew.
The Man Speaks on The Chairman
Becky Lynch received her first big push, and became The Man, under Vince McMahon’s leadership. It was a huge shock for her to realize that the man responsible for the biggest boom in her career was allegedly leading such a terrible double life.
While speaking to Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media Podcast, Becky Lynch answered a question about the allegations against Vince McMahon. She experienced a much different Vince McMahon, and it’s hard to connect the two.
“[They’re horrendous allegations, they’re horrendous, and it’s so hard to listen and reconcile with because you don’t know that person. The person that I’ve experienced was like a grandad. At times a very grumpy granddad, and one that you’re frustrated with. But one that was so supportive of me and my family and of my career, encouraging and understanding as well at times, and is also very responsible for one for the dream that I have, the fact that there is a WWE and then allowing me to live my dream, for meeting my husband, for my whole family, everything that I have. And then you hear these allegations and it’s hard to connect the two. In many ways they just feel like two different people. So trying to see them as one person, I don’t know, it’s very hard. It’s very difficult to reconcile.”
WrestleMANia 40
Becky Lynch is still on top of the WWE roster under Triple H’s creative vision. She won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match, and she is set to battle Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World Title at WrestleMania 40.
Lynch also stated that she would like to open up the showcase of the immortals’ first night this year. We will have to see how they stack the show of shows this year. SEScoops will have more updates as they are made available.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, March 26. WWE held a huge episode of RAW this week in Chicago, and there is a lot to unpack, so let’s get right into it.
– Fire The Man: Becky Lynch expressed the idea that she was legit worried that Vince McMahon would fire her in 2020 when she became pregnant.
– WrestleMami: WWE dropped a new Rhea Ripley t-shirt that looks very Undertaker-ish. It is also done up in the Judgment Day style, and we can imagine these will sell well. You may click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.
– Dominik Got Smashed: Becky Lynch really clocked Dominik Mysterio with a punch this week on RAW. The slow motion video is going viral, and you may check it out below.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 25, 2024
– JR’s New Book: Jim Ross announced that his new book, “Business Is About to Pick Up!: 50 Years of Wrestling in 50 Unforgettable Calls,” co-written by Paul O’Brien, will be released on May 27.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
Becky Lynch was concerned that her WWE career would come to an end when she disclosed to Vince McMahon that she was pregnant in 2020.
Lynch announced her pregnancy during a May 2020 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw that also marked the end of her Raw Women’s Championship reign. In a heartfelt segment, Lynch revealed that Asuka would be the new Raw Women’s Champion as she had captured the Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase the night before.
Worried About Telling Vince McMahon
Lynch’s pregnancy was great for the WWE Superstar but would cost the promotion one of its biggest names. In her new book The Man, Lynch recalls watching WrestleMania 36 at home but being more concerned about what she’d say to Vince McMahon.
“‘How am I going to tell Vince?’ I turned to Colby [Seth Rollins] realizing that beyond our immediate family, the most powerful man in wrestling needed to be the first recipient of our news.”
While Rollins did his best to assure Lynch things would be fine, Lynch feared the worst would happen when she rang her then-boss.
Lynch: “You think he’s gonna yell at me? Fire me?
Rollins: “I don’t think so. But he’ll probably be upset.”
Other Options
Hoping to potentially save her career, Lynch pitched possible ideas to Rollins that would allow her to remain with WWE in a non-competitive role.
“‘I’ll tell him [Vince] I can still keep working. You know, maybe I can… I could make a documentary about this. Or I could maybe be a consultant on the creative team or something?’… I scrambled for ways to save my job.”
Telling Vince McMahon
Lynch’s first effort to call McMahon would see her call go to his answering machine but he would immediately ring back, saying he had been in a meeting. In the memoir, Lynch vividly recalls the conversation she had with McMahon.
“I’m calling you because, well, we have a little bit of a problem… Sir, I’m five weeks pregnant and so I was thinking maybe we could…”
While Lynch was terrified at the prospect of being let go, McMahon cut her off before she could say anything else.
“Congratulations! Oh my God Rebecca! That’s fantastic news. Wow! I’m so happy for you!”
What Came Next?
Lynch would give birth to her and Rollins’ daughter Roux in December 2020. She returned to WWE programming at SummerSlam 2021. Her return would see her capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship in seconds from Bianca Belair, turning heel in the process.
Fired While Pregnant?!
Lynch obviously was not fired due to her pregnancy, but not every woman in wrestling has been so fortunate. In 2005, Dawn Marie was fired while pregnant. Her final appearance for the company came at that year’s ECW One Night Stand event where she managed Lance Storm for his match with Chris Jericho.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
As the anticipation builds for the official release of Becky Lynch memoir, ‘The Man’ looks back on her bold choice to include a risqué photograph of herself and husband, Seth Rollins, in its pages.
Two weeks ago, Lynch and Rollins created quite the buzz when an image surfaced of two clad in nothing but championship gold. The photo in question was snapped by Lynch shortly after WrestleMania 35 — a period of time in which Rollins was equipped with the WWE Championship, while Lynch simultaneously held the WWE Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. To the surprise of many fans, and Rollins himself, this NSFW photograph was revealed as a part of Lynch’s new book.
‘It’s Just Funny’
During a recent interview with Clutch Points, Lynch shared a good laugh about the photo, noting that it was bound to spring up at some point.
“It’s just funny. It had to get out in the world at some point — it’s just too silly and fun not to,” Lynch said. “It was one of those things that [happened because Seth] and I are at the worst at taking photos. We just never take photos together. And so that was the day before I was going to lose one of those titles and I was like, ‘We gotta get this done otherwise I’m not going to have it.‘”
“We’d just gotten back from Europe on a two-week tour. We were both exhausted and it was just like, ‘Alright, let’s go. It was just so funny and silly.'”
“Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Girl” will officially hit bookshelves on March 26. Fans also purchase a copy through major retailers, such as Amazon, online.
WrestleMania 40 is coming up in less than two weeks, and fans are excited. As the roster, and a ton of fans, prepare to make their way to Philadelphia, the card is coming together.
Becky Lynch won the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match, and she didn’t waste any time calling her shot for WrestleMania. The Man will battle Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title at the showcase of the immortals.
WWE’s WrestleMania card is always stacked carefully, and many things are taken into consideration. Lynch has now called her shot, because she wants to go first during night one of the WrestleMania event.
Becky Lynch Calls Her WrestleMania 40 Shot
Lynch vs Ripley will be one of many marquee WrestleMania matches this year. However, the main event of both nights will likely go to Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes’ Mania angle.
During an interview with ClutchPoints, Becky Lynch made it clear that she is not worried about the Mania main event this year. In fact, she would love to open the showcase of the immortals this year.
Nah, man, I’m not worried about card order. I would love to open the show. I would love that. I’ve never opened WrestleMania before.
And to open this one, as big as it is in Philadelphia, I’m just putting that out there. It would be pretty cool because if it’s not the main event, I always want to be the opening spot — it’s always a great place on the card because people are so excited.
Women Represented at WrestleMania 40
Rhea Ripley vs Becky Lynch will be the big women’s match on the RAW brand. On the other side, Bayley will take on IYO Sky for the WWE Women’s Title. Bayley won the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match to get her spot.
As of this writing, the Kabuki Warriors have not been announced for a WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match. Asuka just returned to action after an injury scare, so that is a good sign it is still possible for that to happen.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of the road to WrestleMania 40. You can check out the updated card (so far) below.
WrestleMania 40 Card:
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a tag team match
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre in a singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley in a singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch in a singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn in a singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. SmackDown tournament winners in a Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens in a United Stated Title Match
Becky Lynch has said that the Vince McMahon she worked with is far different than the McMahon others had to face according to the allegations against WWE’s ex-CEO.
Sitting down with Marc Haynes of the Irish Independent, Becky Lynch was asked about the McMahon allegations. Lynch admitted that it’s been hard for her to cope with the allegations, given how McMahon treated her in WWE.
“I don’t know that person… We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but especially in my last run with him there, and when I told him I was pregnant, he was so good to me.”
Lynch said she has McMahon to thank for “my dream” of becoming a WWE Superstar, a role that would also see her meet Seth Rollins and result in the pair having a child.
Speaking about her own experiences with McMahon, Lynch said they were positive and wished everybody could say the same.
“I would always love my interactions with him, and that becomes very, very difficult, especially as a woman who has been so driven in changing the way that women are treated in wrestling and making sure that it is a safe space.”
Becky Lynch has fought with some of the best female talent WWE has had in the company’s history. She has faced up-and-comers from NXT, along with established athletes like Nia Jax and Liv Morgan. However, there’s only one opponent she considers her “wrestling soulmate.”
When asked about who she’s most enjoyed sharing the ring with, she couldn’t pick just one person. Becky Lynch named Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair as her wrestling soulmates.
“The very cool thing about that is I think there are several,” she began. “I think Charlotte and I obviously have an undeniable chemistry and an undeniable history, and I think no matter how many times myself and Charlotte have wrestled, I think people are always going to want to see more,” said Lynch.
Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch
The wrestler/author/mother also praised Bianca Belair and shared why she loves competing against her.
“Another is Bianca Belair. She’s fabulous. I love stepping in the ring with her. Every time we do, I feel like there is a little bit of magic that happens, and so there is a couple,” said Lynch.
She also joked about loving to beat Jax in the ring. They recently wrestled in a Last Woman Standing Match on the March 18 WWE Monday Night Raw episode. Lynch won the match and seemingly ended her feud with her rival.
Despite being in the ring with many great performers, Lynch did share that she is still looking to have one match with a WWE Hall of Famer.
Why Won’t You Fight Me?
Lynch spoke about her desire to wrestle WWE Hall of Fame Beth Pheonix, who we last saw in the ring at WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 when she and husband Adam Copeland battled Judgement Day’s Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor.
It might be a long shot, but Lynch’s dream is to wrestle Beth Phoenix at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
“I think it has to be in Dublin, Ireland. I think it has to be in Croke Park, and I think my opponent, and it’s a match I’ve been trying to get for a long time, would be Beth Pheonix,” said Lynch.
“I’ve been trying to get her in the ring and whoop her ass for a long time now, and it’s just not happening, and I want to know why is that? Why is That Beth Phoenix? Why won’t you fight me?”
It’s unclear if Phoenix is still interested in competing in WWE after her husband, Adam Copeland, signed with AEW last year. However, Lynch has publicly made the challenge and is welcoming a big showdown in Ireland against the Hall of Famer.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins may be happily married with a beautiful daughter, but that doesn’t mean the two have different personalities outside of the ring.
‘The Man’ and ‘The Visionary’ may mirror one another with their outlandishness inside the squared circle, but speaking with Peter Rosenberg, Lynch revealed that Rollins tends to internalize a lot while she is way more expressive with her emotions.
A Work of Art
“He’s the Mona Lisa of wrestlers, but he’s also very emotive when he’s out there, but I spend so much time being like, ‘You alright? You mad at me? What’s going on?’
“I’m very heart on my sleeve, here’s how I’m feeling, and he’s very contemplative, ‘no-selly’, has to think about things until he processes how he feels about them, where as I’m fiery, I know how I feel about a thing, and in processing I go, ‘Gosh I wish I could have been more like that,’ but we are very different in that regard. Very similar interests, very similar world views.”
She was also told by her brother once that she was a ‘squirrel’ that needed a ‘tree.’
“Seth is my tree. Seth is my tree. I’m very squirrelly.”
Lynch also added that the two were initially just really great friends, but she always looked forward to seeing him backstage and that Rollins would tolerate her bad jokes.
Becky Lynch’s new memoir is proving to be a hit with WWE Superstars and legends alike with glowing reviews pouring in for the new book.
Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girlis due to release later this month, and will tell the tale of how young Rebecca Quin became the internationally recognized WWE Superstar she is today. The book is 384 pages long.
The Reviews Are In
Lynch’s memoir will hit shelves on March 26 but some WWE stars have been able to get their hands on an advanced copy of the book. In reviews from Simon & Schuster Publishing WWE Hall of Famer ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was impressed with how well The Man writes about her life.
“Becky’s writing style is infectious and contagious. Just like her personality. From hard times and hard decisions, to changing the landscape of sports entertainment, the self-described ‘underdog’ has always been destined to do great things. I’m sure there is more to come.”
John Cena, somebody Lynch shared the ring with for a segment in 2018, believes the memoir shows the merits of a three-word mantra of his.
“Her authenticity allows us to feel her struggles and mature alongside her as the story unfolds… It might just be the new Underdog’s Guide to the Galaxy. A trailblazer, a groundbreaker and a great example of my 3 favorite words, Never Give Up.”
Lynch’s husband Seth Rollins said that the book shares plenty in common with its author.
“Effortlessly authentic, poignant without ever trying too hard, and a little rough around the edges—that’s my lovely wife, and it’s also her lovely book… Between being a full-time WWE Superstar, a full-time mother, and a GOAT life partner, my one and only somehow casually found the bandwidth to pen a perfect memoir…because of course she did.”
Mick Foley, who knows a thing or two about writing a gripping memoir, was very impressed with the tome.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read… I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”
Stephanie McMahon is confident about how the book will fare once readers get their own copies.
“Becky Lynch: The Man is the story of a remarkable woman who had the guts to put it all on the line… Becky Lynch defies every stereotype. The crowd loves her because she is vulnerable and real, and I have no doubt you will too!”
The Man at the White House
One person who may be reading the book soon is U.S. President Joe Biden. The Man was recently a guest at the White House as part of the recent St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Lynch even left a copy of her book in the White House, as she made clear with a tweet.
It’s fitting that Lynch was at the White House this past week as she’s been feeling a lot more American as of late. After this week’s Raw, Lynch had some big news to share with the WWE Universe.