10 WWE Stomping Grounds Impulse Reactions
9. Becky Lynch Vs. Lacey Evans
FOR THE LOVE OF (THE) MANKIND!!!!! #WWEStompingGrounds @RealMickFoley @BeckyLynchWWE @LaceyEvansWWE pic.twitter.com/ykxFZzqQDI
— WWE (@WWE) June 23, 2019
Michael Cole dropping in a "Becky's boyfriend" reference during her entrance and exit was presumably a Vince McMahon directive to try and build some heat for the Seth Rollins twist later that night, but beyond that unwarranted heavy-handedness this was otherwise another good presentation of one of the company's biggest stars.
It made a rather refreshing change to see Becky Lynch going on first considering the fight she'd put up to claim the opposite position at WrestleMania earlier this year. The crowd were subsequently red hot for the redhead, as 'The Man' finally got headline-level responses by, paradoxically, not having to go on when the crowd were already shattered.
Going up the gears throughout the match, Lynch again proved herself worthy of the spot by giving challenger Lacey Evans a better match than she's likely to have for the remainder of this year - particularly if the 'Sassy Southern Belle's effort against Charlotte is more in keeping with her regular standard.
Their chemistry was such as that it almost made one mourn the apparent end of the series...almost. Even in this encounter, Evans was visibly out of her depth - the quick tap-out was an incredibly cathartic end to a trying first title programme for 'The Man'.