Becky Lynch Would Make Ideal 'Iron Man' at 1st Women's WWE Royal Rumble

If the first women's WWE Royal Rumble doesn't feature a punchdrunk, exhausted Becky Lynch struggling to keep her dreams of victory alive late in the match, it simply won't be complete.

There's a great opportunity to fuse her talents with tradition. The Irish Lass Kicker is set to have an ideal platform in the form of the Royal Rumble on Jan. 28. 

Lynch announced on Tuesday's SmackDown that she will enter the historic 30-woman bout. She confidently claimed she would be "the last woman standing."

She doesn't need to be the victor to shine, though.

She can instead be the star of a familiar story. The "Iron Man" narrative is a time-honored element of the event. Inevitably, one competitor battles on deep into the Rumble despite nabbing an early number.

Bob Backlund entered second in 1993 and managed to stave off elimination until over an hour later, per WWE.com. In 2003, Chris Jericho was also the second man up. As seen on ProWrestlingHistory.com, he spent more time in the bout than anyone else before Test ousted him from the ring.

CM Punk continued the tradition in 2014. The first man to step into the ring for the Royal Rumble that night, The Second City Saint fought on until his elimination over 49 minutes later. 

While we have seen sneaky villains serve as the match's Iron Man, a gutsy fighter with a strong connection to the audience is the best fit for the role.

There is something stirring about seeing an underdog's shot made longer by having to last nearly the entire match. We watch them slip out of precarious situations, battle until their legs wobble and defy the odds. 

It's a babyface's dream stage.

And Lynch has nailed being a fan favorite. Last September, Daily DDT tweeted: "Becky is the best fiery, tooth-and-nail pure babyface woman in WWE."

ProWrestling.net columnist Will Pruett went even further:

There's a reason one hears these kinds of comments about The Irish Lass Kicker. 

She's endearing. She brims with moxie. Her real-life story is one comprised of hard work, long travels and a deep passion for the business.

In an interview before Survivor Series 2017, Lynch told Bleacher Report:

"There was a connection there because I think I just really love wrestling. If you're a fan, you love wrestling. When you can feel that radiating off somebody, I think you tend to gravitate toward them. I think that's the same with a lot of the babyfaces throughout WWE history."

WWE can play up that connection by making Lynch the Royal Rumble's first Iron Woman.

It can set up the former SmackDown women's champion to charge back toward contender status and provide the night with a stirring subplot while keeping the pathway open for other Superstars to win. If the company wants to maintain Asuka's dominance or celebrate the arrival of Ronda Rousey via a victory, Lynch can nab the Rumble's consolation prize.

That would be just the jolt she needs.

Lynch hasn't been the central figure in a feud for too long. She hasn't strung together many wins. She's been in the deep background of the SmackDown women's title picture for too long.

The Limerick, Ireland, native hasn't been in a title match since last April at WrestleMania 33, per CageMatch.net.

That can change with a huge performance at the Rumble. It can be the catalyst for what's ahead, a showcase of her guts, the moment that kicks off a winning streak.

Lynch as the Royal Rumble's workhorse is a tale that just begs to be written.