The exchanges between Raw women’s champion Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famer Lita have mostly been shrouded in respect leading up to their title match at Elimination Chamber on Saturday. (Sans the Twist of Fate and moonsault off the top rope that Lita blasted Lynch with).
That very dynamic has a returning Lita reminiscing about a storied rivalry from her past.
“I think because we are outspoken about having mutual respect for each other, in a different way I liken it very much to my rivalry with Trish (Stratus),” Lita tells DAZN News over a recent Zoom call, comparing her budding feud with Lynch to that of her cemented program with fellow Hall of Famer Stratus.
“We had such a respect for each other that we always wanted to bring out the best in each other by being as good as we could be,” she continues. “I feel that with Becky.”
The caveat to that is it’s that same mutual respect is fueling Lita to show and prove that she still has enough skills left to upend “The Man” in her first title shot in 15 years.
“The respect I have for her as a competitor makes me want to beat her that much more,” Lita says, “because I want to go in there and show that I’m worthy for the respect she has for me.”
Indeed, Lynch has been candid about her reverence for Lita over the past few weeks on Raw, telling the former champion, “Growing up I worshipped you. Without Lita, there would be no Becky Lynch.”
But that’s also where Lynch made sure to attach the following amendment: “But now that there is a Becky Lynch, there can be no Lita.”
While Lita has been able to size Lynch up in the ring during their confrontations on Raw, she can only project how they’ll stack up once the bell tolls at Elimination Chamber at the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We’re fairly evenly sized which can be good in some ways but then it also does eliminate that David and Goliath (factor) which can to be fun to play around with,” Lita weighs. “So, I see it being more of an evenly-paced, tit-for-tat kind of … I don’t foresee either one of us being able to have a giant lead one way or the other because the bottom line is one of us would finish that if that were the case.”
Backstage visits and activity have allowed Lita to keep tabs on Lynch through the years, watching the Irish sensation rise through the ranks and become the superstar she is today.
“Just as she says she has scouted me from day one and knows all of my moves probably as good or better than I do,” Lita says, “I’ve been watching her since she’s been on the main roster as well.”
And that goes for other Superstars on the main roster, too.
“I’ve been, of course — be it consciously or subconsciously — scouting that Raw women’s locker room since I’ve been there for a few weeks,” Lita admits. “Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are two women that are just getting started.
“I know Bianca has been pretty in the spotlight for the past year but I still see her as ‘This girl is just getting started,’” she continues. “Rhea, a lot more successful in NXT, but a big match with Charlotte and I just think that girl is a beast. Just so powerful — both of the women. Their strength and confidence. Those are two key factors.”
As much as the women’s landscape has changed and improved since she reigned, Lita is flattered any time she sees her influence — whether it be trendsetting extreme moves or style — rub off on today’s crop of Superstars.
“I love it,” Lita says. “It’s the highest compliment for someone to say that I put them out on their path or they borrowed my ring gear style or move as a tribute to me.”
Her rivalry with Stratus eventually wound up with the latter inducting the former into the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class and a tried and true friendship that remains intact today.
Where the Lita-Lynch rivalry goes is anyone’s guess.
After returning to WWE last month via a Royal Rumble appearance and deepening her involvement on Raw subsequently, Lita eyes being crowned a five-time champion at Elimination Chamber as incentive to possibly stick around for longer.
“I’m looking at each deal as a one-time deal,” Lita reveals. “I looked at Royal Rumble as a one-time deal. I’m looking at Elimination Chamber as a one-time deal and not to give anything away but I’m looking at the Monday night after the Elimination Chamber with that title as a one-match deal.
“That’s where I’m at and that’s where I perform best,” she continues, “in the moment, spontaneous and don’t think too far ahead because that’s when I’ll start to let the doubt will creep in.”