Last year at WrestleMania 37, Bianca Belair walked in as the young talent looking to make her mark in WWE. She did just that and then some by beating Sasha Banks in the main event for the SmackDown Women’s Title. A popular champion, Belair ended up losing the title to Becky Lynch at SummerSlam in 26 seconds.
This year, she returns to WrestleMania as a title contender, but with plenty more experience. Belair looks to get a measure of revenge against Lynch when she faces her for the RAW Women’s Title during night one of WrestleMania 38 inside AT&T Stadium.
Starting from her days in NXT, Belair looked and performed the part of a true star. She has impressed every time she's stepped foot in the ring, performing powerful moves that wow fans everywhere. Looking to leave her mark in the business, Belair believes she has what it takes to be the “EST of WWE” for a long time.
Belair spoke with The Sporting News before her upcoming fight at WrestleMania. She discussed the journey she went through to get to this moment via her rivalry with Lynch, and much more.
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Sporting News: You are competing for another world title at a WrestleMania. What is going through your mind after all that you've been through?
Bianca Belair: If you told me this was happening five years ago, I would have been amazed. I walked into WrestleMania last year as a rookie, and I walked out as champion. This year feels completely different. I’m walking in as a former winner of the main event of WrestleMania, and I'm looking to go back to back, this time against Becky Lynch.
SN: You made your main roster debut during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there were no fans to watch you in person. You were able to have your first WrestleMania with fans, and now you will wrestle in front of a packed house at AT&T Stadium. How do you feel, knowing how far you have come?
BB: My first WrestleMania, going through the pandemic, was very exciting since our fans were able to come back. If you’ve ever been to a WWE event, you know that the WWE Universe brings that unique energy that you don’t get anywhere else. The place to celebrate with all my fans and for them to chant “EST” is on “The Grandest Stage of them All.”
SN: This rivalry between you and Becky Lynch has become personal. She took your title from you at SummerSlam. Recently, you cut her hair. Things have gotten a little tense. What's been going through your head during this time?
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BB: What’s been going on with Becky Lynch has been going on for a long, long time. I won the main event of WrestleMania last year and I had all this momentum. Becky returned, surprised, and beat me in 26 seconds at SummerSlam. That was tough. It has been a journey ever since then, a climb to get my way back into the title picture. Becky has done everything possible to keep me from getting that title. Me cutting her hair was just the final straw. She’s pulled every trick in the book. She tried cutting my hair, but it backfired on her. I’m tired of her antics. As satisfying as it looked to have her plan backfire on her, it really wasn’t. I want more, I want redemption. That’s what I’m going to get at WrestleMania.
SN: Seeing how this is personal, what have you learned from this experience, especially after losing it all in 26 seconds?
BB: I want to be an inspiration. As quickly as you are to the top, you can be right back to the bottom. Things happen, but that doesn’t mean you give up. You have to keep fighting. No matter what people say, no matter how hard it gets, you can climb your way back to the top and redeem yourself.
SN: Your match with Sasha at WrestleMania 37 was met with rave reviews. You had the full support of the crowd. How do you stay calm in the moment, knowing how you’re considered the future by many?
BB: Being in WWE, everything comes too fast sometimes. You never know when an opportunity is going to present itself. I live by the motto, “stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.” The most important thing is just showing up and having confidence in my ability. No matter what opportunity is there, I’m going to rise to the occasion. Being a part of the WWE’s women’s division comes with a certain pride. Every time we go out there, we want to show that we can steal the show, be the main event. That’s always my goal every time I’m out there.
SN: Do you have any dream matches you’ve been craving?
BB: I’m going to put this out there: After WrestleMania, after I beat Becky Lynch, I would have then taken down three of the Four Horsewomen. I’ve pinned Bayley, I’ve pinned Sasha Banks, I’ll pin Becky if things go my way at WrestleMania. The last one left would be Charlotte Flair. The Four Horsewomen have done amazing things. They’ve laid the foundation and paved the way. To come in and take down all four of those women is a goal I have.
I would love one day to get in the ring with Beth Phoenix. She’s one of the first women that I started watching when I came into WWE that I related to. Seeing her Military Press girls above her head or picking up two girls at one time, I really embraced her power and her strength. That is a true dream match that I hope happens one day.
