June 26 is an important date in the illustrious career of multi-time WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.
The date marks her debut in NXT. Far from the colourful, top of the card characters she plays these days, Lynch’s 2014 WWE arrival saw her take on Summer Rae as an Irish jig dancing babyface.
‘The Man’ ramped up the over the top nature of the absurd, stereotypical gimmick, seemingly trying to hammer home how ill-fitting it was.
Decked out in emerald green with a smile a mile wide, Lynch stomped and danced her way to the ring as an incredulous Summer Rae looked on.
Unsurprisingly, the schtick did not last very long.
In a tweet commemorating eight years since she arrived on the black and gold brand, ‘Big Time Becks’ reflected on her frustrating debut and the growth she’s experienced as a performer and star in the eight years since:
8 years ago I had possibly the most shameful debut in NXT/WWE history.
Today I have accomplished nearly everything I could have ever dreamed of.
And tonight I will main event like I always do at #wwehidalgo .
Where you’ve been doesn’t have to indicate where you’ll go.
8 years ago I had possibly the most shameful debut in NXT/ WWE history.
Today I have accomplished nearly everything I could have ever dreamed of.
And tonight I will main event like I always do at #wwehidalgo .
Where you’ve been doesn’t have to indicate where you’ll go. pic.twitter.com/PNslc1zDcv
— The Man (@BeckyLynchWWE) June 26, 2022
The motivational nature of the tweet goes against the increasingly unhinged, vainglorious heel persona Becky Lynch has displayed since returning last summer.
After several hit and miss years on the WWE main roster, Becky Lynch reached the pinnacle of sports entertainment after turning on Charlotte Flair in 2018. Her aggressive, fearless ‘The Man’ persona was a smash hit with viewers and led to her winning the first ever women’s WrestleMania main event in 2019.
In the years since WWE has continued to present Becky Lynch as one of their flagship stars. Her current downfall angle, a swing of bad luck and defeats that have swept in since she lost to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38, is highly unlikely to change that.