Becky Lynch on Lita, difficulties for Ronda Rousey, and Rebecca Quin's hatred of social media

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  • Tweet this, Instagram that, Facebook something else. Today our favourite athletes and celebrities have never been closer to the fans who follow their every move.

    We know more about them, their families, their lives away from ‘work’ than ever before.

    But for the WWE’s most followed active female on the roster, that’s not the case.

    Becky Lynch might have more than 12m people following her across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter but compared to her contemporaries, her use of the platforms is very different.

    As some give a full behind-the-scenes into their lives, Lynch, prefers to stick to her in-ring persona – rarely posting anything about life outside the business, including husband Seth Rollins and their daughter.

    “Rebecca Quinn (Lynch’s real name) hates social media,” she tells Sport360.

    “She doesn’t think it’s good for the world.

    “But for Becky Lynch it is a tool to further storylines, or to give a little insight into the character that might not be seen on TV and that’s what I use it for. If I wasn’t in this business, I wouldn’t have it.

    With the added context of becoming a mum, Lynch also fears for her daughter in a world seemingly defined what is seen on a screen rather than in reality.

    “I think occasionally it can do some good, but oftentimes there is a lot of negativity that goes on and I do worry for my child growing up and how that will impact her. It can be difficult for people to see the difference between online life, and real life and you see a lot of online bullying going on and I hate that.

    “I also leads to a lot of improper body image and comparison and all these things that can lead to such a negative mindset. As far as putting out that kind of stuff, I try to steer away from it – I don’t think I need to be posting pictures in bikinis or whatever. I don’t want to give away my own life. You can see glimpses of Becky Lynch, but I like to keep Rebecca Quinn for myself and my family.”

    Jeddah is about the get another glimpse of Becky Lynch this weekend when she returns to Saudi Arabia to defend her RAW women’s title against Lita at Elimination Chamber. After idolising her opponent growing up, Lynch has mixed feelings about the match.

    “16-year-old Becky, 15 year-old Becky, 14 year-old Becky, even 33-year-old Becky would lose their minds at the prospects of this match. But, 35-year-old Becky is insulted. It is my childhood hero coming after everything I have worked for in my entire life and she is trying to take my title from me. I am very, very, mixed in my emotions right now.”

    One thing undeniable is the inspiration superstars like Lynch can have in Saudi Arabia. She is someone who takes her job as role model very seriously – so to now be on billboards promoting the event, a rare occurrence to feature women, she is understandably delighted.

    “It is such an honour. It is almost hard to explain,” she says. “To feel like you have any but of an impact on these young girls out there, maybe they can see this and think they can be on billboards too one day – having a daughter myself it means the world to me.

    “I think it goes beyond your wildest dreams, you do this thing because you love it and you are very passionate about it but to know it can make a difference like that, it is unbelievable. It puts everything in perspective and gives you a ‘why’ like nothing else.”

    The match is very much on the road to Wrestlemania, and if Lynch successfully defends she will know her opponent for the annual showpiece by the end of the night when six other superstars compete inside the Elimination Chamber for the right to face the champion.

    One person, who that will not be is the returning Ronda Rousey. After winning the Royal Rumble, she elected to face Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, and while Lynch is quick to scoff at the dodge, she also know what it is like returning to WWE as a new mum as Rousey is. The thought of another match in the future, is still on the cards though.

    “Nobody knows as much I do how hard what she is doing is,” explained Lynch – the only person to beat Rousey in WWE.

    “What we do, this business, is so hard. Being a mother is so hard. Traveling with an infant is so hard. Combine all of those things and you have a difficulty that is huge – and no one but me, right now, understands what she is going through.

    “And I know, if I was her, I wouldn’t want to pick the one person who has been able to beat her in her entire run in WWE – I wouldn’t want to pick me. Would I want to do that? Hell no. Pick Charlotte Flair, I know how easy it is to beat her, I’ve done it a million times, so have a little warm up, and if she wants, I’ll always be here.”

    Elimination Chamber is set to be held at the Jeddah Superdome, the world’s largest pillarless Superdome, on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 8.00pm AST. Tickets can be purchased online via https://www.ticketmx.com/ar/d/1227/wwe-elimination-chamber. Fans can also catch all the action live via the WWE Network.

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