Bianca Belair, former WWE Women’s World Champion, disclosed that she suffered a broken finger during her acclaimed triple threat match at WWE WrestleMania 41 against Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. The injury occurred amid a risky high-impact move in the match, highlighting the physical toll of the event.
Belair explained the incident during an interview with Chris Van Vliet on his Insight podcast, revealing the moment her finger was severely injured during a complex sequence.
Details Behind the Painful Accident in the Triple Threat
The injury happened during a high-risk German suplex spot that involved all three competitors on the top rope. Belair described how her hand became trapped under Rhea Ripley at a critical moment.
“It was when we were doing the triple German spot… my hand got stuck underneath Rhea. Also, I went to the wrong side of Rhea, but my hand — I thought she was gonna go further over me — we kind of just collapsed together. When my hand went back, it got stuck under her, and she literally crashed on my hand.”
—Bianca Belair
This intense collision led to an immediate pain so sharp that Belair instantly realized her finger was broken.
Immediate Reaction and Adrenaline During the Match
Unlike many wrestling injuries that become apparent only after a match ends, Belair felt the severity instantly.
“I knew immediately it was broken… Usually in a match, something happens, and you don’t feel it until after. But in the moment I thought I broke all of my fingers. The ref comes to me like, ‘Are you okay?’ I’m like, ‘I just broke all of my fingers!’”
—Bianca Belair
The pain overwhelmed her briefly, causing her to roll on the mat in agony until Ripley called out to bring her back to focus.
“You just see me rolling around on the ground, and it took Rhea to snap me out of the moment. She’s like, ‘Bianca, Bianca!’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ Oh, we have to finish this match.”
—Bianca Belair
From that point, adrenaline propelled Belair to complete the match despite the injury.
Reflecting on the Match and Its Emotional Impact
Though the triple threat is widely considered one of the best matches in Belair’s career, she has only watched it once.
Image of: Bianca Belair
“I don’t want to watch it back because I know I’m going to pick it apart… it just takes way too much out of me. I get nervous when I watch it again. I feel all the emotions again. By the end of watching, I just feel so exhausted. So I’m like, okay, one and done, and I’m happy with that.”
—Bianca Belair
Despite the painful injury, Belair returned to WWE action soon after WrestleMania 41 and continues to be a key competitor in the Raw women’s division as SummerSlam approaches.
Carlanisha Bobo is a veteran journalist at CynicalTimes.org, specializing in coverage of the WWE SmackDown Women’s Division.
With seven years of experience in pro wrestling journalism, she brings authoritative reporting, deep analysis, and a sharp eye for in-ring storytelling.
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