Vince Russo criticizes crowd reaction to Becky Lynch after her recent WWE appearances, challenging how fans applaud “The Man” despite her heel turn, particularly during her ongoing feud with Lyra Valkyrie. The outspoken ex-WCW World Heavyweight Champion has expressed strong discontent with how WWE audiences continue to celebrate Lynch, claiming it undercuts Valkyrie’s babyface storyline just days ahead of their Money in the Bank showdown.
Russo Expresses Discontent with Audience Support for Becky Lynch
Vince Russo, who has a history of critiquing WWE programming, has again put the spotlight on what he feels is a problematic fan reaction concerning Becky Lynch. At WrestleMania 41, Lynch joined Lyra Valkyrie unexpectedly as her tag team partner, helping defeat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. This partnership, however, proved brief, as their reign ended the following week on Monday Night Raw when they lost the titles in a rematch against The Judgment Day. Post-defeat, Lynch attacked Valkyrie in a dramatic heel turn, setting the stage for a bitter rivalry between the former allies.
The animosity has intensified, with Valkyrie defending her Women’s Intercontinental Title against Lynch at Backlash. Despite audience boos directed at Lynch, her entrance music still triggers enthusiastic reactions, with fans singing along regardless of her character’s alignment. Russo asserts that this disconnect undermines the narrative WWE tries to craft, especially as Valkyrie remains positioned as the heroic competitor.
Russo did not hold back on social media, drawing attention to what he views as a failed connection between the crowd’s reaction and the storyline intentions. He cited that every time Becky Lynch’s music plays, the crowd’s reflexive cheers make it difficult for Valkyrie or any other “babyface” to gain the necessary crowd support.
“You play @BeckyLynchWWE‘s Music and THEY CHEER. You have trained your audience to be nothing but Pavlovian Dogs. At that Point Lyra Velcro is DEAD IN THE WATER. So the Dogs start their ‘WHAT’ BS and it comes across like the Audience doesn’t care about your babyface.
CHANGE…”
— Vince Russo (@THEVinceRusso) June 4, 2025
Russo’s argument hinges on the idea that audience behavior has become conditioned rather than genuine, which, in his view, is damaging not only to the storylines but to the performers positioned as crowd favorites. He pushes for WWE to modify elements such as Lynch’s music to help refocus fan energy toward the intended hero.
Lynch and Valkyrie’s Heated Rivalry Heads to Money in the Bank
Looking forward, Lynch and Valkyrie are slated to face each other again for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at Money in the Bank, one of several high-profile matches announced for the event. Valkyrie’s recent victory over Lynch at Backlash maintains her momentum, but with emotions running high and crowd reactions unpredictable, the outcome and atmosphere remain uncertain.
As the rivalry continues, Russo’s sharp critique brings attention to the powerful role audience reactions play in shaping WWE narratives. Whether fans will change their approach or if WWE will take steps to redirect their responses remains to be seen as Money in the Bank approaches. This controversy spotlights not only the ongoing feud for the Women’s Intercontinental Title, but also bigger questions about how crowd dynamics impact wrestling storytelling.
