Becky Lynch probably isn't appreciated enough in this country. She is one of the biggest stars in sports entertainment, being perhaps the most popular name in the WWE.
While quite a few people would have heard her name in passing, a large portion of the general public likely would not recognise her if they saw her walking down the street.
That is largely down to the popularity levels of wrestling. The WWE isn't the draw that it once was, with it being a fairly niche sport in Ireland.
Tommy Tiernan criticised for Becky Lynch interview
One of the main selling points of The Tommy Tiernan Show is the fact that the host has no idea who his guests will be on a given night. That can lead to some very interesting conversations, but on occasion it can also take away from what otherwise could have been a much more in-depth interview.
On last night's episode, Becky Lynch was the first guest to appear on stage. It seemed as though Tommy Tiernan wasn't entirely sure who she actually was.
“I’m the man Tommy.” 💪 💪
Ireland’s WWE Superstar Becky Lynch explains to @Tommedian how she became ‘The Man’ to her millions of fans#TommyTiernanShow@BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/dbkR9Ynho7— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) March 25, 2023
Once Lynch explained that she was one of the biggest stars in the WWE, the comedian was initially fairly dismissive of the industry as a whole.
Lynch: I was the first woman to win a main event at Wrestlemania.
Tiernan: It's not really a competition, is it?
Lynch: I mean, back stage it is very competitive. Is it pre-determined, is that what you mean?
Tiernan: It's like a magnificent act. It's choreographed craic and pantomime, with a bit of 'sport' thrown in... The stuff we see at the high level on television seems a bit obvious. There's no nuance to it.
Lynch: There is so much nuance. You wouldn't be on wrestling twitter, but they're really into the nuances. There is when it's done well...
Tiernan: I sometimes look at the audience at that stuff and think 'they're not smart'. Do you know what I mean? They just seems like eejits. Grown men shouting, you wouldn't get it at the Gaiety panto. I form that opinion of the audience, but you love them?
Lynch: They're invested because they love story telling. It goes in so many different ways and you want to swerve the audience. It's not just grown men, it's children and we're bringing in a whole new female audience. I love that they're so invested.
Tiernan's initial opinions on professional wrestling would be fairly common among those who are not familiar with the sport and are fairly understandable.
In saying that, his attitude towards it did not go down well in some quarters.
How Tommy Tiernan came across as an interviewer after the way he spoke to Becky Lynch.#tommytiernan pic.twitter.com/WLU3ZLuCai
— Irish Wrestling & Entertainment 📺 (@IRISHWRESTLING8) March 26, 2023
Loved Becky Lynch on Tommy Tiernan but don't think he realized how big of a deal Becky is to wrestling
— quinny (@quinny2410) March 26, 2023
Becky Lynch’s interview with Tommy Tiernan is one of the most excruciating things I’ve ever watched. She has the patience of a saint. The highlight is like three quarters of the way in Tommy runs out of things to ask and there’s just ten seconds of dead air.
— Garrett Kidney (@garrettkidney) March 26, 2023
becky lynch can buy tommy tiernan, so i don’t know why he keeps cutting her off and downplaying her accomplishes pic.twitter.com/wL5IBWVheb
— ana ! (@iiovelynch) March 26, 2023
Really annoyed by how dismissive and belittling Tommy Tiernan is being towards Becky Lynch. No respect for her craft or the people involved. Extremely disappointing.
— Damien (@damog7) March 25, 2023
Although Tiernan came around in the end, the first half was pretty disappointing. I get he didn't know who she was but would he bring another guest out and completely mock their entire profession just because of his own ignorance and prejudice? Becky handled herself very well.
— Steve McCullagh (@TheStevieMac) March 26, 2023
Becky Lynch handled this so well. That's why she The Man. https://t.co/9l7jHVlHOD
— LaDarius Brown (@ladarius_brown) March 26, 2023
#tommytiernan after he googles #beckylynch 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/zGengT36Zg
— ♡Leanne Murphy♡ (@Lfcbynature1988) March 26, 2023
In fairness, he seemed to quickly come around to the idea.
After a lengthy discussion, he became increasingly intrigued by wrestling as a spectator sport. By the end, he had committed to watch Becky Lynch's upcoming matches at Wrestlemania next month.
Lynch: Wrestlemania is the big one, that's on on April 1st and 2nd. That's on in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Tiernan: Will there be 15,000 or 20,000 people or something?
Lynch: No, it's 80,000 people per night and it's two nights. On the first night I'm going to be in a six-woman match, and because I'm also tag team champion, I hope to defend my title the second night too.
Tiernan: That's incredible. I'll be watching, I mean that. There's something going on there.
As a whole, the conversation was an enlightening one for the show's host who seemed to have a genuine interest in wrestling by the end of it.
Tommy Tiernan and Becky Lynch had a genuinely fascinating conversation about pro wrestling. He approached it with the same views as many adult non fans and she stood her ground #TommyTiernanShow #TommyTiernan
— Charlie Havelin (@CNHavelin) March 26, 2023
He probably can't wait until Wrestlemania.
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