WWE Superstar Becky Lynch recently revealed that she was performing The Mandible Claw finishing move long before Mick Foley made it famous. The Irish wrestler spoke about her early experiences with the maneuver during a recent appearance on Complex News.
Lynch explained that as a child, she and her older brother—who is four years her senior—would wrestle regularly. She described how she used her mother’s 1980s leather gloves and fur waistcoat to imitate a wrestling persona that included The Mandible Claw as her signature finisher in their matches.
Details of Her Early Use of the Wrestling Move
Becky recalled,
“So, when I was a kid, I have an older brother who’s four years older than me. He got me into wrestling, but the two of us… my mom had wacky 80s clothes, you know? She had like fur coats and all this kind of stuff, and she had these leather gloves, and I would put them on with this fur waistcoat — oh, kind of like what I have on today!”
She further described how the move helped her win matches, stating,
“Yeah, leather pants, a little bit… I don’t think I fit into her leather pants… anyway, but then that would be my finishing move at the end of my matches with my brother. And I’d win! I’d just, yeah, grab him by the mouth!”
When asked if she wore a sock on her hand to perform the finisher, Lynch clarified,
“Oh, no, I had — well, I had a leather glove. Yeah, and that’s how I won! But that was before he was doing it.”
Upcoming Title Defense and Mick Foley’s WWE Departure
Becky Lynch is scheduled to defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship next week in Belfast, Ireland, where she will face challenger Maxxine Dupri. Lynch recently regained the title from Dupri during an episode of WWE RAW.
Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Mick Foley has distanced himself from WWE due to the company’s associations with The White House and former President Donald Trump, which has been a point of public controversy among fans and wrestling insiders alike.
Fan Reactions to Lynch’s Mandible Claw Claim
Fans have taken to social media to celebrate Lynch’s assertion of her early connection to The Mandible Claw. One tweet declared,
“Becky used The MANdible claw before Mick Foley.… And she used it on her brother. ?The GOAT was born for wrestling!! ?@BeckyLynchWWE”
Significance of Lynch’s Statement
Becky Lynch’s revelation underscores her deep-rooted passion and longstanding engagement with wrestling, stretching back to her childhood. This personal history reflects both her dedication to the sport and the evolution of her wrestling identity. Her upcoming championship defense in Belfast will further cement her role as a major figure in WWE’s women’s division, while her comments also renew interest in the legacy of iconic wrestling maneuvers like The Mandible Claw.
Becky used The MANdible claw before Mick Foley.
… And she used it on her brother. 🤣
The GOAT was born for wrestling!! 🔥@BeckyLynchWWE
Full video: https://t.co/ruz9qzsZEv pic.twitter.com/JduxGW7hKc— Angelo 🌟🔴⚫️ (@DeadlyAngelo97) January 14, 2026
