Becky Lynch's run to the top of the WWE card went through Ronda Rousey. But it almost never happened.
Before getting signed by WWE, Lynch took an extended break from pro wrestling and tried several different careers. When speaking to Fightful recently, Becky specified that she didn't watch wrestling while she was gone, and when she did, it weighed on her.
"I will say, honestly, it was quite hard for me to watch wrestling during that period. I had stepped away, I couldn't do it anymore, I went through some issues. I was seeing people I'd come through the business with like Tyson Kidd, Natalya, Sheamus all make it. I felt like I should be there, and I didn't know if I was ever going to be there, and it was very hard to watch," Lynch explained.
Another woman taking a break is the aforementioned Ronda Rousey. Since WrestleMania and losing the Raw Women's title, Rousey hasn't appeared on WWE main roster programming. After a white hot feud, Lynch isn't really sure if we'll see Rousey or not, but welcomes her back with open arms and closed fists.
"I don't know if we will (see her). I'll be here holding the company up if she does. We still have a one-on-one match to have. I'll be holding this championship until someone pries it out of my cold, dead hands. So if she ever wants to come at me – Ronnie, I'm here waiting, you little weirdo," Lynch exclaimed.
Rousey had noted that she planned on starting a family following WrestleMania, but the status on that remains unclear. She has been linked to the Total Divas reality series, and often films her own digital content.
Lynch and Rousey's war captivated the wrestling world, and their verbal battles made headlines. In one particularly odd spot in the feud, Rousey accused Lynch's oft-tested (and legit effective) armbar, "The Disarmher," of not actually working. It didn't bother "The Man," but she was fast to point out that the effectiveness isn't really up for debate.
"I think we saw in an MMA fight a few weeks later, someone won with my move. Cost of doing business. Whatever anyone wants to say about me, that's fine. I want to make money, I want to be the best of all time. At the end of the day, I beat her and she left. Who's doing better?," Becky asked.
Speaking of effectiveness, Lynch looked to increase hers outside the cage. We closed by speaking about her time visiting Straight Blast Gym in Ireland. SBG had played as home to Conor McGregor, who wasn't there during Becky's last trip, but it didn't damper things in any way.
"It was amazing. John Kavanagh is a legend. I like to spend as much time as I can when I get over there to Ireland. It really helps sharpen my skills, and gives me an edge," said Lynch.
You can see our full talk with Becky Lynch above, and subscribe to Fightful Select to see all of our WWE interviews early.
