Bianca Belair’s continued absence from WWE programming has created a significant void in the women’s division, and recent confirmations about the nature of her injury now provide a clearer explanation for her prolonged recovery, raising further questions about when the top star might return to the ring.
Belair, who has been off television since her Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 41, confirmed the status of her injury on the Club 520 Podcast. “I have my wedding ring on my right hand because my left finger is still broken,” she stated.
The injury was reportedly more severe than initially believed. According to a report from Sean Ross Sapp, Belair suffered a joint fracture during a German Suplex attempt, a more complex injury than a simple finger break. Despite the setback, Belair expressed pride in the WrestleMania encounter. “That’s one of the matches I’m very proud of at this year’s WrestleMania with Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY,” Belair said. “There was a lot of power and athleticism that we displayed, and storytelling.”
Her lengthy absence has not gone unnoticed, drawing commentary from industry veterans following her non-wrestling appearance at the press conference announcing WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. Former WWE head writer Vince Russo questioned the logic of featuring Belair and Liv Morgan, another star who has been absent for months, so prominently. “I could not understand how they had two of their biggest stars at that press conference… who have not been on television in months,” Russo said on his podcast.
Jonathan Coachman, Russo’s co-host, echoed the sentiment, noting the math was not “mathing.” While creative choices were scrutinized, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray offered a financial perspective on the company’s decision to hold the 2027 event in Riyadh. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, he argued that WWE may be approaching a limit with domestic ticket prices. “People are now getting to the point where they’re b—chin,’ moaning, complaining about the ticket prices,” he said. “Eventually, you’re gonna cap out… Where is money not an issue? Money is not an issue there [Saudi].”