As a world traveler and all around world class athlete, Becky Lynch has always sought out the very best to prove herself against.
During her tenure in NXT, she enjoyed the challenges presented by her fellow Four Horsewomen Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Bayley in a variety of hard fought matches.
Upon arrival to the main roster her straight fire personality didn’t waiver.
From the moment she walked down the ramp on a July 2016 edition of Monday Night Raw, everyone within the then-Divas division was immediately put on notice.
Using the mix of high impact moves and an array of submission holds, Lynch proved she was the real deal. Some would argue she would have toppled Flair during her first championship run had it not been for interference from the likes of Ric Flair and Dana Brooke.
Undeterred, the Queen of Steampunk took the honor of being the first female wrestler drafted to Smackdown Live in July 2016.
Reinvigorated by the fresh start, Lynch wasted no time in going about cementing herself as THE woman to beat.
At Backlash she would go on to defeat Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Natayla, Nikki Bella, and Carmella in a Six Pack Challenge to claim the newly created Smackdown Women’s Championship. All the hardships, sacrifice, travel, and training culminated in the biggest win of her impressive career.
When Bliss surged in the rankings and defeated her in a Tables Match at TLC, Becky didn’t sulk or vanish from the scene like Ronda Rousey following her KO loss to Holly Holm.
Instead she put her nose to the grind and earned several rematches. In the midst of her pursuit, she very likely would have welcomed back Mickie James as both a friend and competitor.
Only the Mickie James who reappeared in January wasn’t the Mickie who we had last seen in April of 2010.
In her time away the country music star and multi-time Women’s Champion watched from afar as many heralded the change in perception of females in WWE to others, Lynch included.
Considering she had redefined women’s wrestling in her own way during her 2006-2010 run in WWE (including a victory over WWE Hall of Fame Trish Stratus in a classic at Wrestlemania 22) as well as a 2010-2013 stint in Impact Wrestling, the accolades being heaped upon the new generation didn’t sit too well with her.
So she set out to remind everyone who paved the way for their favorites in unlikely fashion.
Using Lynch’s own La Luchadora guise against her, James repeatedly aided Bliss in defeating Lynch, citing the reigning champion as the only person who appreciated and recognized her contributions to women’s wrestling.
The look on Lynch’s face when she unmasked James told the whole story. She was shocked and hurt before falling prey to a two on one assault.
That shock and hurt quickly turned to anger and she has been on the hunt to pay James back in the worst ways imaginable.
Thus far she has gained a modicum of revenge teaming with Naomi and Nikki Bella to defeat James, Bliss, and Natalya at the Royal Rumble kickoff show.
She followed that up by teaming with Naomi to defeat James and Bliss on the January 31 edition of Smackdown Live.
However it has been Naomi scoring the pinfalls on Bliss leaving Lynch plenty of motivation to further seek retribution.
On the February 7 edition of Smackdown Live, the two rivals came face to face at a duel contract signing along with Naomi and Bliss.
James reiterated that she deserves the spotlight and credit for making it so ingrates like Lynch could be featured as serious athletes. The rebirth of Mickie James would come at her expense when they meet at the Chamber PPV.
Lynch fired back that while she once respected Mickie, she merely skipped town when things became too difficult for her to handle. Thus she’ll walk right through her back into title contention.
This will be a hotly contested match.
James has already shown she hasn’t lost a step when she took NXT Women’s Champion Asuka to the limit in November. And she has proven to be as crafty as ever in her handful of matches since returning to the blue brand.
Lynch will have to not only be weary of her abilities but her willingness to do anything she deems necessary to preserve her legacy.
On the flip side, Mickie has faced countless opponents and can prepare for just about any offensive maneuvers.
However, she may be underestimating how far Lynch’s temper and burning desire to be the best have carried her to this point. When she can use those emotions and desires on a direct target, very few can come up with a defense sufficient enough to shut her down.
Lynch will no doubt target an arm for the Dis-Arm-Er while Mickie will target the head to set up her vicious version of the DDT or a head kick.
Who will emerge victorious?
Tune in on Sunday, live only on the WWE Network!
