Bianca Belair remains sidelined from WWE action, and the reason is more complex than a simple fracture. The finger injury she sustained at WrestleMania 41 has healed, but a lack of mobility is preventing her from being medically cleared and has left her return timeline uncertain.
During her triple-threat match in April, Belair broke the finger in three places, including at the joint. While the bone has mended, the joint itself remains a significant issue.
“It healed, but it won’t bend,” Belair told CBS Sports. “You can’t wrestle with a straight finger because it’ll break again… I can’t even sew right now. I can’t even make gear. We’re on the end of this healing process, so we might have some time, but you never know. Crazy things happen.”
This complication has kept Belair out of the ring since WrestleMania, and she is now waiting to find out if surgery will be necessary to restore full function. While she has not ruled out an appearance at SummerSlam, she is not currently scheduled to compete.
Despite the frustrating recovery, the forced hiatus has provided an unexpected silver lining for the former champion. After years of maintaining a demanding schedule at the top of the women’s division, the time off has been a welcome reprieve.
“I needed this break,” she admitted. “I’ve been going for the past five years nonstop in the title picture, filming reality TV shows and appearances. I think I had over 300 appearances in one year.”
Though unable to wrestle, WWE has kept Belair on television in non-physical roles, most recently as the special guest referee for the match between Jade Cargill and Naomi at WWE Evolution. Her absence has paused a developing storyline involving the three women, with Naomi’s recent Money in the Bank victory adding another layer of tension for when Belair is finally cleared to return.