Becky Lynch became one of the biggest names WWE has ever produced, but she wasn’t exactly sold on that name when the company first handed it to her.
During an appearance on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast, Lynch went back to her early NXT days and discussed some of the names being considered for her after Rebecca Knox was left behind. The hosts brought up names including Quinn Cullen and Meline Daily before asking how Becky Lynch ultimately came together. Lynch didn’t remember exactly who created the final name, but she definitely remembered her first reaction to the “Lynch” part.
“I don’t know. I think they put it together and I was like, ‘Yeah, probably be good to keep my first name, but Lynch, I don’t like that.’ But I don’t have anything better. I don’t have—I—They might fire me if I just keep pushing back. So I, yeah. Yeah, that’ll be it.”
Lynch said there wasn’t some huge plan behind accepting the name. At that stage of her WWE career, she was more concerned about keeping her job than fighting management over what she would be called.
“There was no real long foresight in that.”
The bigger revelation came when Lynch explained just how nervous she was about her WWE status during those early years. She said she constantly worried that doing anything to rock the boat could end with her being sent home.
“I was just constantly scared of being fired. I was like, ‘I am so lucky to be here. Just do not rock the boat in any capacity. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I will do more, sir. Yes, sir.’”
That mentality makes her eventual transformation into “The Man” even more interesting. The same wrestler who once accepted a surname she didn’t even like because she was afraid WWE might fire her eventually became someone whose entire presentation was built around refusing to take a backseat. Lynch also revealed that “The Lass Kicker” nickname wasn’t something she came up with herself either. WWE simply put it on her first shirt, and that was the first time she had heard the phrase attached to her.
“I had never said it, had never thought of it. And then that was just my first T-shirt. They just came out with ‘Lass Kicker,’ and I was like, ‘Oh.’”
Her first reaction wasn’t even about whether the nickname sounded cool. Lynch immediately wondered whether male fans would actually want to wear a shirt with “Lass Kicker” written across it. She said WWE apparently heard similar feedback elsewhere before making adjustments, but Lynch still grew to appreciate the nickname.
“I don’t know that men are going to want to wear that T-shirt, was my first abusive response.”
“That was the first time I’d heard of me being called ‘The Lass Kicker,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool.’”
It’s hard to imagine Becky Lynch being afraid to challenge anybody backstage now, but that was apparently where her head was when WWE was still figuring out who she was going to be. She didn’t like the Lynch name, didn’t invent The Lass Kicker, and was so worried about losing her job that pushing back simply didn’t feel worth the risk.
Years later, “Becky Lynch” became a name WWE fans around the world instantly recognized. The funny part is that the woman behind it almost certainly wouldn’t have picked it herself.
What do you think about Becky Lynch admitting she didn’t like her WWE name when it was first given to her? Would Rebecca Knox have worked better, or did WWE ultimately get it right with Becky Lynch? Leave your feedback in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
