A fellow athlete’s comeback helped change how she viewed her own future.
Summary
– Becky Lynch wanted to show that women can pursue motherhood and a top WWE career
– Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s comeback helped inspire her outlook
– She discussed her decision at the espnW Women and Sports Summit
Becky Lynch says becoming a mother during her biggest WWE run was an opportunity to show that women should not have to abandon one ambition to pursue another.
Speaking at the espnW Women + Sports Summit, Lynch recalled hearing Olympic sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce discuss returning to elite competition after having a child. That example helped her believe she could start a family and return to the top herself.
Lynch had already headlined WrestleMania and was Raw Women’s Champion when she stepped away. She said she had always wanted children and had found the right partner in Seth Rollins.
She viewed the decision as a way to use her position rather than surrender it. Leading male wrestlers could become fathers without giving up their standing, and she questioned why women should face a different expectation.
Lynch believes that attitude has become more common in WWE, with more mothers continuing their careers. Her own comeback and later championship success demonstrated the possibility she wanted others to see.
