Becky Lynch’s Biggest Feuds: Analyzing The Rivalry with Ronda Rousey

The rivalry that led to Becky Lynch being crowned as WWE’s top star.

In the first two articles in this series, I covered Becky Lynch’s feud with Alexa Bliss (a rookie at the time), and her Rivalry with Hart family member, and Industry veteran, Natalya, respectively. For this article, we’re shifting the focus again, and so, as promised, it’s time to talk about Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey.

This feud was one many, including myself, were looking forward to. It may have been the existing tension between the two as members of two separate rival stables that each call themselves the “Four Horsewomen”. It might have been because both women had a variation of an Arm-bar as a finisher, and many were curious to see which one would win out in the end. It may have even been that these two superstars appealed to different sections of the WWE universe, nevertheless, it was a rivalry many wanted to witness.

The question most would ask at this point would more than likely be, with all of these expectations that the WWE Universe had for this feud, was it able to deliver? The simple answer to this question would be, Yes…and No. One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that it didn’t go according to plan. In fact, you could say that this might have been one of the most complicated storylines Becky has ever been involved in.

The Road to WrestleMania

After defeating Charlotte Flair in a “Last Woman Standing” match to retain her SmackDown Women’s Championship at the 2018 Evolution PPV, Becky was set to face then-Raw Women’s Champion Ronda, in a champion vs champion match at that year’s Survivor Series. This was where the complications began. Becky’s feud with Charlotte was still fresh in the memory, and aspects of it lurked in the background for several months, before seemingly jumping to the forefront.

On the November 12, 2018, episode of RAW, Becky Led the SmackDown women’s division on a successful invasion attack against their counterparts on the RAW brand. While it was relatively successful in achieving its goal, there was an unexpected blessing in disguise that happened that night. During the brawl that came about as a result of the SmackDown women’s division attack on their Survivor series opponents, Becky Lynch suffered a broken nose and concussion at the hands of Nia Jax.

Becky continued on as if nothing had happened, and the picture of her standing triumphantly in the crowd, arms spread wide with a smile on her bruised, and broken face as she surveyed her success that night, is probably one of the most memorable moments in recent history. The downside of this injury was, of course, that  Becky was unable to face Ronda at Survivor Series and would choose Charlotte to replace her in the match.

Later that same year, at the TLC PPV, Rousey would successfully defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Nia Jax, and would then proceed to intervene in that night’s main event. Rousey would tip over the ladder that Becky and Charlotte were climbing, allowing Asuka to capitalize, and become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.

Obstacles at Every Turn

The main card of the 2019 Royal Rumble PPV kicked off with Becky challenging for Asuka’s SmackDown women’s championship. The match itself was impressive, to say the least, and ended with Asuka emerging victorious. Becky couldn’t regain her championship, and all hope of seeing The Man compete against Rousey at WrestleMania 35 was now seemingly lost.

The only way would be for her to win the Women’s Royal Rumble, but all 30 spots had been filled.

Or so we thought.

Becky would end up replacing an Injured Lana in the No. 28 spot as the latter was unable to compete in the Rumble due to an ankle injury. Becky would fight through a knee injury sustained during the match to finally eliminate longtime rival Charlotte Flair and win the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble. The next night Becky, a SmackDown Superstar at the time, would show up on the opposing brand to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey to a match on the Grandest Stage of them all.

Ronda accepted The Man’s Challenge, and the match for WrestleMania was set – Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women’s Championship. This very fact should have cleared the obstacles on the Road to WrestleMania. Becky sure fought her hardest to make sure there were none, but sometimes no matter how hard we fight, there are still challenges we need to face head-on and conquer.

After taking time off because of the concussion and broken nose she’d sustained in late 2018, Becky was adamant she didn’t want any medical attention for her injured knee for fear that she wouldn’t be cleared for her match at WrestleMania.  Her refusal would cause Stephanie McMahon  to suspend her until she agreed to seek medical attention. Becky would have her knee evaluated by her own doctors, which would lead to the suspension being lifted and her once again being cleared to face Ronda at WrestleMania.

If only it were that simple.

The moment Triple H and Stephanie McMahon cleared Becky for her WrestleMania match, their decision was overturned by Mr. McMahon. Vince would suspend Becky for two months, meaning that she wouldn’t be able to return to action until after WrestleMania, and replace her in the match with Charlotte Flair. The suspension infuriated many. This was a match we’d been looking forward to, and now we wouldn’t be able to see it.

Becky wasn’t going to go down without a fight, however. Upon the declaration of her suspension, she made her presence felt every week. Attacks on Charlotte and Ronda would become the norm, so much so that it would lead to her being arrested on the February 25th episode of RAW. That very night Ronda would demand that Becky get reinstated, and upon Stephanie McMahon’s refusal, lay down the Raw Women’s Championship at her feet and walk away. Rousey’s actions angered Stephanie who would then proceed to reinstate Becky. As Ronda seemingly vacated the championship, Stephanie would announce that at Fastlane Becky would face Charlotte to determine who the champion would be, a match announcement Ronda took great offense to.

The stakes for the match  between Becky and Charlotte were changed after Ronda brutally attacked the two (mostly Becky). Becky would still face Charlotte, but now the stakes were that if she won, she’d “qualify” (for the match she already qualified for by winning the Women’s Royal Rumble), and be added to the WrestleMania match. At the Fastlane PPV, Ronda would attack Becky, which meant that Charlotte got disqualified, Becky would win by DQ, and would be added to the ‘Mania match. The obstacles were finally cleared, and the match was set – Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair would Main event WrestleMania.

A Historic Main Event

To say things got simpler after Becky got added to the WrestleMania match, wouldn’t be truthful. In fact, many in the WWE universe were upset that she wasn’t facing Rousey one on one.  The next couple of months after Fastlane were eventful, to say the least. More arrests, a Beat the Clock challenge, Charlotte winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship, all would happen.

Once Charlotte became SmackDown Women’s Champion, WWE officials would declare that the match at WrestleMania would now be Winner-Take-All, meaning that both Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair would be defending their respective championships. After a long, complicated journey, the path was finally clear.

The match itself was everything we’d expected and more.  After months of injuries, suspensions, arrests, and many other challenges, Becky Lynch would pin Ronda Rousey and become the first ever female double champion in WWE history. On the 7th of April, 2019, The Man would become #Becky2Belts.

What’s Next for Becky and Ronda?

After WrestleMania 35, Ronda would step away from the ring (initially because she broke her hand during the match) and has not been seen in the WWE since. As for Becky, she would lose her SmackDown Women’s Championship to Charlotte at Money in The Bank 2019 (who would then lose it to a Bayley Cash in). Becky would go on to become the longest-reigning Raw Women’s Champion, with an impressive 398 days (as recognized by WWE) as champion,

Becky would relinquish her title to this year’s Miss Money in The Bank, Asuka, after announcing that she was pregnant, and therefore unable to compete.  At this point in time, both Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey are on hiatus from the WWE. We don’t know when they’ll return, nor do we know what the plans are for them if they do. All I will say is this: If and when these two superstars are able to step inside the squared circle again, they will be sure to remind everyone why we all wanted to see Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey one-on-one.

Well, that was quite the journey down memory lane!

Next up, Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair.