LIGHTING IT UP

Amid their individual ascents to the top of WWE, BECKY LYNCH and SETH ROLLINS have captivated the WWE Universe, emerged as all-stars in the fitness industry, and blazed a new path for aspiring Superstars to strive for. How'd they do it? Hard work, determination, and training their asses off.

-  JIM SCHMALTZ

THE ROAD TO THE TOP OF WWE wasn't an overnight trip for Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, who have become two of sports entertainment's most popular attractions. And perhaps this shared affinity for grinding it out in the ring explains why Lynch and Rollins (real names Rebecca Quinn and Colby Lopez) gravitated toward each other outside of the ring as well.

Last May, when their relationship was revealed to the public, the WWE Universe swooned at the news. It just seemed to make sense: The crimson-haired Lynch is the first woman to hold the Raw Women's Championship and SmackDown Women's Championship simultaneously. And "Beast Slayer" Rollins is the WWE Universal Champion and the winner of the 2019 Royal Rumble. Both are beloved by the WWE Universe, which regularly sends the two Superstars' names trending to the top of social media whenever their entrance music hits. What's more, both are fitness fanatics.

Here was America's answer to the celebrated coupling of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: a ginger across the pond becoming romantically involved with a Yank from the heartland. But unlike the overseas version, our royal couple kicks ass, takes names, and looks great doing it.

Yet despite their very real affection for each other, some catty online trolls believe that it's all a marketing stunt. Lynch isn't having it.

"If you ask the internet, we don't have any chemistry," she says. "I think that people have a perceived view of me and him, and to see us come together, I don't know that they envisioned it. I think people always need something to complain about."

Both grew up in love with the sport and began dreaming of making it to the big time as kids. Rollins, hailing from Davenport, IA, began hitting the gym when he was 16 years old.