Insects have been running wild in Grand Rapids.
Thousands of fans gathered in the Van Andel Arena last week for a pre-taped edition of WWE Raw, which aired on December 22. According to former Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, a series of insects marched into the Grand Rapids’ venue as well.
“For the record. I DID NOT TAP!!! THE RING WAS INFESTED WITH ANTS AND INSECTS!!! I SHOULD BE THANKED FOR BEING A HERO!!! Lots of people saw it! WE WILL PROVE THIS!!! I DID NOT TAP!!!” Lynch wrote on X, referencing a scene that appeared to be her tapping out to Maxxine Dupri’s ankle lock on Raw.
Lynch similarly claimed that a rogue bee attacked her while she was caught in AJ Lee’s Black Widow at WWE Wrestlepalooza — something that she says caused her to swat the bee away, rather than tap out to Lee’s submission hold. In this instance, many fans and pundits raised doubts about Lynch’s story, which was paired with a “unedited” footage. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, though, Lynch’s claim seems to hold more weight.
Taking to X, former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz confirmed that ants had legitimately ruined a ladder that was slated to be used for a championship ladder match in the Van Andel Arena in July 2002. As a result, WWE officials rushed to replace it.
“2002 Raw ladder match, RVD vs. Jeff Hardy. We initially had a wooden ladder only to discover it was eaten by ants,” Gewirtz wrote. “Replaced it last second with a metal ladder after finding out Grand Rapids is known as the ‘ant capital of the midwest’. Kudos to speaking your truth @BeckyLynchWWE.”
The ladder match in reference pitted then-Intercontinental Champion RVD against then-WWE European Champion Jeff Hardy, with both titles being hung above to unify them. RVD emerged victorious, walking out of Raw with both titles and the metal ladder still intact.
