Wednesday 14 September 2016 16:56, UK
Becky Lynch is flying high at the moment - despite no longer being an air hostess.
The Irish wrestler packed in her job with Aer Lingus a few years ago and after completing a drama degree, attending clown college and performing as a stuntwoman was signed by WWE in 2013.
The Dubliner's decision to re-pursue a grappling career - she put her dreams on hold for seven years having wondered whether wrestling was really for her - has paid dividends.
Lynch progressed through WWE NXT before joining the main roster in 2015 and competing at WrestleMania - and at Backlash on Sunday became Smackdown's inaugural Women's Champion.
It's a far cry from dishing out meals and pointing to emergency exits…
"I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life," Lynch told Sky Sports, while reflecting on her pre-wrestling employment. "I didn't know how to get out, so it was a tough time for me.
"It was all encompassing and so hard for me to do any classes or take up any hobbies - I'd wake up with this gnawing feeling in my stomach that I wasn't doing what I was meant to do."
Trainer, friend and fellow WWE superstar Finn Balor - who is nursing a shoulder injury he sustained while winning the Universal Title at SummerSlam in August - was the catalyst for Lynch returning to the ring.
"Balor is the one person that changed everything - he is the reason I am here," Lynch said of her Irish compatriot.
"I was sitting down with him for lunch one day and saying how I didn't know whether to come back and he said: 'Go back now because I'm not sitting here with you in 10 years when it'll be too late'.
"He is dealing with his injury the way he deals with everything: with a smile on his face - remember, this is a man who dislocated his shoulder in his match, popped it right back into place, and won the title!
"He is going to be back better than ever - he is only shortly out of surgery but is already three weeks ahead of schedule."
Balor convinced Lynch to don her wrestling career, but it was her friendship with fellow NXT graduates Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Bayley - the quartet were collectively known as The Four Horsewomen of NXT - that helped her flourish in WWE.
Success has come to all of them - Banks and Charlotte are battling for possession of the Raw Women's Title, while Bayley has just moved up to the Monday night roster after holding the NXT equivalent for 223 days.
I like going home, watching movies and drinking tea – Irish tea!
"We all got along really well," said Lynch, who defeated Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Natalya and Naomi in a Six-Pack Challenger to win her championship last weekend.
"Sasha took me under her wing - not only giving me tips on hair and make-up, something I know nothing about, but helping me overcome my shyness and lack of confidence.
"Having previously quit the business I had this real guilt complex, but she could see how much I loved it and how much I wanted to work.
"Charlotte, as [16-time world champion] Ric Flair's daughter, comes from a legacy family and she was an absolute sweetheart. Plus, Bayley is exactly who you see on TV - a lovely person who absolutely adores this business.
"Our love of our job and wanting to make women's wrestling something to watch is what made us bond and work so well together."
Lynch came up short in her Women's Championship match with Charlotte and Banks at WrestleMania 32 in April but landed her first title on WWE's main roster after submitting Carmella in Sunday night's Backlash opener.
"It meant everything - I have always wanted and worked towards opening the show, getting good time to perform, telling a story and having the fans completely engaged.
"I felt all the girls did that but to be the first, and to be in the history books, feels great. Being the leader of a division is a pressure but it's one that I feel I am ready for.
"I want to make Smackdown the brand to watch but beyond that main-eventing, WrestleMania is the next step. I don't see any reason why we [myself, Charlotte, Sasha and Bayley] couldn't do that."
Watch Lynch in action on WWE Smackdown, every Tuesday night (Wednesday morning) at 1am on Sky Sports 5.
The reason I started watching during The Attitude Era was Mick Foley – every time he cut a promo I was hooked and I just wanted him to win. I also thought Lita was the coolest thing in the world.
