On Becky Lynch’s 36th birthday in January 2023, a frightening event unfolded when her tour bus caught fire while traveling from Tulsa to Iowa. Lynch shared the details of this unexpected crisis during an episode of Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, revealing how close the incident came to devastating her and those on board.
The incident took place late at night as she and her team were heading home, and the fire alarm was first noticed by their driver, Andy. Lynch described the panic that ensued, emphasizing the urgency of evacuating the bus while she cared for her daughter Roux.
Evacuation and the Quick Response That Prevented Disaster
Lynch recounted the chaotic moments after the fire was detected. She wrapped Roux in a blanket and made a barefoot dash into a nearby Kum & Go convenience store with other passengers, including Seth. Despite their shock and the cold night, the group sought help while their driver confronted the blaze.
Andy asked the staff for a fire extinguisher, which was quickly retrieved from behind the counter. With the extinguisher in hand, Andy managed to put out the flames promptly, preventing the fire from spreading and ensuring everyone’s safety. Lynch recalled the surreal aftermath with everyone still visibly shaken, barefoot and cold, but safe.
“We were driving from Tulsa to Iowa. We were going to drive home that night. It was the middle of the night. It was my birthday, my 36th birthday. I hear, ‘Bang, bang, bang.’ It was Andy [The Driver] going, ‘Get out, there is a fire.’”
—Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar
“I had Roux on the bus. I wrapped her in a blanket. I run in, I don’t have shoes on. We’re at this Kum & Go. We run into this place, we’re not wearing shoes. I have a little baby. [Seth] runs in. Nobody is wearing shoes. Everybody is cold. Andy runs in, ‘You got a fire extinguisher?’ The guy swipes a Snickers bar, ‘It’s over there.’ Andy runs out, ‘Zap, zap, zap,’ put outs the fire. That was it. We were safe. Andy comes back, everyone is white, shellshocked, got a little baby with me. All of us barefoot. The guy goes, ‘You gonna bring my fire extinguisher back?’”
—Becky Lynch, WWE Superstar
Broader Reflections on Wrestling and Stardom From Industry Veterans
While Lynch’s story centered on a life-threatening moment, other wrestlers recently shared their views on the challenges and star potential within the wrestling world, highlighting the intense pressures that performers face beyond the ring.
Rikishi, speaking on his podcast Off The Top, offered his perspective on the rising star Jade Cargill, discussing the comparisons made between her and the late Chyna and emphasizing the rare presence of such unique talent in wrestling today.
“Jade has a big fanbase. I want to say before she even got to the WWE, and [it] got even bigger when she got to the WWE. And if — you know, I don’t know what’s happening in there where, why is this rumors or whatever the case that they said about her. But she definitely has star power, you know what? I mean? There’s always a way to work around, whether it’s the athletic ability, or the psychology, or the working, whatever the case may be in the ring. There’s always a way to get around. Because you don’t get specimens that look like that often.”
—Rikishi, Former WWE Superstar
“That’s like a reborn [version] of Chyna, you know? The black version. But you see her, she looks like a goddess. She looks like you can stick her in the Marvel movie, and that movie will be a hit. So what I’m saying is just, if it was me I’d be patient with her. I would just give her a little bit more extra repetitions in the ring and kind of, really kind of tap into the weak spots, possibly stuff that she still having problems with, or trying to find in the square, circle, yeah.”
—Rikishi, Former WWE Superstar
“But you want to like — at that type of superstar power the way this lady looks? Man, I can’t give up on her too quick. And hopefully the WWE don’t give up on her too quick. Because I don’t know if we’ll ever find another Jade. You see like, you know, Rhea Ripley. I mean, same way. And it started in the beginning until she found her groove. She wasn’t just born overnight.”
—Rikishi, Former WWE Superstar
Insights Into Wrestling Careers: Kevin Nash’s Contract Negotiation Story
Another WWE Hall of Famer, Kevin Nash, recently reflected on his final contract talks with Vince McMahon before moving to WCW in 1996. Nash illustrated the financial uncertainties wrestlers face, especially when trying to balance career demands with family responsibilities.
Nash described his candid exchange with McMahon when he shared his financial expectations and how Vince reacted to the offer Nash made, which ultimately led to Nash’s departure from WWE.
“I told this to Vince when I was leaving, and he said, ‘We’re family.’ I said, ‘No, we’re not family. My family is sitting in f**king Arizona right now, and my wife’s about to give birth to my son in f**king three months. And I need to know how much I’m going to make in order to start — it’s very hard to financially plan when you don’t know whether you’re going to make $1 or f**king $2 million.”
—Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer
“And I just said, ‘I’m not even going to tell you what it is.’ I said, ‘I’ve already written it down.’ And I gave it to him, and he read it — and it was great, because it was so classic Vince. He read it, he kind of dropped his head, and he turned his back and took like four steps. And kind of like he was pondering it. It was great. He comes back and he was like, ‘Yeah, I can’t match that.’”
—Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer
“F**k yeah. You got to realize that on TV f**king in WCW, is the Dungeon of Doom. You know? ‘Sullivan and my son.’ I’m the hottest I’ve ever been. I’m I finally f**king, I’m no longer a baby face. I’m working with f**king — I’m gonna stay in the top, wouldn’t be one of the top five guys.”
—Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer
Nash also shared the taxing nature of a WWE schedule and the intricate financial planning performers must manage to maintain stability amid the unpredictability of wrestling careers, such as handling write-offs and expenses.
“And then every f**king receipt that you had to have, you know? And then finally we got a platinum card. And then the platinum card would give you the breakdown, and then you would put everything on your platinum card. But you would literally come home at the end of the month and f**king have a bag of receipts that you would have to handle. If you were f**king conscious and conscientious. But if you were conscious of what the f**k you were doing and knowing that you were gonna make you need to f**king have these write-offs. And I ran every f**king scam you could. I f**king rented the vehicles because I had a Diners Club, and then that made the loss damage waiver free. So at the end of the f**king 24-day run, everybody f**king gave me cash for what the bill was. And I wrote the whole f**king thing off, and I was only paying about f**king a fifth of it.”
—Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer
Understanding the Impact of Becky Lynch’s Tour Bus Fire Incident
Becky Lynch’s recount of the tour bus fire on her birthday highlights not only the unpredictable dangers of life on the road for touring performers but also the resilience and quick action required in such situations. The incident underscores the importance of preparedness and calm under pressure for the safety of everyone involved, especially when traveling with family.
Lynch’s experience also resonates deeply while set against the broader backdrop of wrestling careers, where personal hardships often intersect with professional demands. With industry veterans like Rikishi and Kevin Nash sharing their own stories of resilience and tough negotiations, the incident serves as a reminder of the physical and emotional trials wrestlers endure.
Going forward, Lynch’s story may encourage improvements in travel safety protocols for touring talent and increased awareness among fans of the personal challenges wrestlers face. Meanwhile, her openness about the incident adds a humanizing and sobering dimension to her public persona and career narrative.
