Trick Williams

Trick Williams Bio

Matrick Mondre Belton, known professionally by his ring name Trick Williams, is an American professional wrestler born on May 26, 1994. He is signed to WWE and performs on the NXT brand, where he has become one of the most prominent stars of his era. Across his career, Williams has captured the NXT Championship on two occasions and held the NXT North American Championship once. He also makes appearances in WWE’s partner promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a former TNA World Champion.

Before entering the squared circle, Belton built an athletic foundation as a college football player, earning a full scholarship and competing for multiple programs. His transition from gridiron to grappling shaped the confident, charismatic persona now associated with the Trick Williams character. Standing 193 centimeters tall and competing at 109 kilograms, he carries a physical presence matched by his outspoken promo style.

Early Life and Background

Matrick Mondre Belton was born on May 26, 1994, in Columbia, South Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in the same region that shaped his love for athletics and team sports. From childhood, Belton excelled across multiple sports, but football became his central focus as he progressed through his school years. His family environment encouraged discipline and physical activity, laying the groundwork for the competitive mindset he would later bring to professional wrestling.

Belton’s path to athletics took a serious turn when he received a full scholarship to play college football for the Hampton Pirates in 2012 and 2013. His time at Hampton ended after a pulled hamstring cut his second season short. Believing he had not yet reached his ceiling, he left Hampton and walked on to the South Carolina Gamecocks, his father’s alma mater, where he played from 2014 to 2016. At South Carolina, he lined up alongside his brothers, André and Hassan, and caught 11 passes for 121 yards during his college career, all recorded in 2015. While at South Carolina, Belton completed his studies in physical education.

Path to Professional Wrestling

After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL cycle, Belton spent time as an assistant coach and student-teacher intern at Airport High School in West Columbia, South Carolina, in the fall of 2017. He then played in The Spring League in 2018 and attended the Philadelphia Eagles rookie minicamp on a tryout basis in May 2018. When he realized his football career had stalled, he sent a tape to WWE while pursuing a spot in the XFL, the short-lived football league operated by Vince McMahon. Although he did not make the XFL, WWE contacted him by email and encouraged him to try out for wrestling.

Belton moved to Philadelphia to live with his uncle and began training at Combat Zone Wrestling. He worked as a fitness coach for Orangetheory Fitness by day and attended wrestling school at night. Honoring his uncle and his Black heritage, he created a Dolemite-inspired character named after his uncle’s nickname, Sweet Daddy Trick, and even produced a short film to develop the persona. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he took odd jobs while training at KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy. That period of persistence led to his developmental contract with WWE in February 2021.

Trick Williams Career

Early Career (2018–2021)

Belton’s earliest professional in-ring appearances came under the ring name Sweet Daddy Trick on the Philadelphia independent scene, where he trained under his uncle and worked with Combat Zone Wrestling. The independent dates allowed him to refine his in-ring fundamentals while balancing day jobs to support himself. The character he developed during this era emphasized charisma, athletic footwork, and a larger-than-life swagger that would later define his Trick Williams persona.

On February 24, 2021, Belton signed a developmental contract with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center. He first appeared on WWE television on the March 5, 2021, episode of SmackDown as one of Apollo Crews’ unnamed Elite Guard. His first NXT appearance came on the September 14, 2021, episode of NXT, where he debuted as a friend of Carmelo Hayes under the new ring name Trick Williams. The alliance, known as the Trick Melo Gang, quickly established him as a heel willing to back up his partner with physical force.

NXT Breakthrough (2022–2023)

Williams made his in-ring debut on the October 5, 2021, episode of NXT, teaming with Hayes in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Through 2022, he built a reputation as a dependable ally of Hayes before embarking on a singles feud with Wes Lee, highlighted by a victory over Lee at NXT: The Great American Bash on July 5, 2022. His willingness to take on any opponent helped position him as a rising singles threat.

In 2023, Williams turned face after Bron Breakker betrayed the Trick Melo Gang. On the August 1, 2023, episode of NXT, Hayes and Williams amicably split so that Williams could chase his own accolades. On September 30, 2023, at NXT No Mercy, Williams defeated Dominik Mysterio to capture the NXT North American Championship, though he lost the title back to Mysterio three days later in the shortest reign in the title’s history. At NXT Deadline on December 9, 2023, Williams won the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge to earn a future NXT Championship opportunity, signaling his arrival as a main-event-level performer.

NXT Championship Era (2024–2025)

At NXT Vengeance Day on February 4, 2024, Williams failed to capture the NXT Championship from Ilja Dragunov, and Hayes attacked him afterward, ending the former alliance. Williams responded with a steel cage victory over Hayes on the April 16, 2024, episode of NXT. The following week, at Spring Breakin’, Williams defeated Dragunov to win the NXT Championship for the first time in his career. His first reign ended 75 days later at NXT Heatwave on July 7, 2024, when Ethan Page pinned him in a fatal four-way match.

Williams reclaimed the NXT Championship on October 1, 2024, during NXT’s CW premiere, defeating Page with CM Punk serving as special guest referee. He successfully defended the title against Page in a Devil’s Playground match at NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024, and retained against Ridge Holland at NXT Deadline on December 7, 2024. His second reign came to an end at NXT: New Year’s Evil on January 7, 2025, when Oba Femi pinned him in a triple threat match also involving Eddy Thorpe.

TNA World Championship Era (2025)

On April 27, 2025, Williams made his TNA debut at Rebellion, attacking TNA World Champion Joe Hendry after his successful title defense. He continued to target Hendry on the May 1, 2025, episode of TNA Impact and again at Under Siege on May 23, 2025, before their scheduled showdown. On May 25, 2025, at NXT Battleground, Williams defeated Hendry to win the TNA World Championship, becoming the first WWE-contracted wrestler to hold a TNA title.

Williams successfully defended the TNA World Championship against Mike Santana, Josh Briggs, Elijah, Hendry and Santana together at Slammiversary, and Moose at Emergence. His reign ended at 140 days on October 12, 2025, when he lost the title to Santana at TNA Bound for Glory. Following the loss, Williams reignited a feud with NXT Champion Ricky Saints, falling short at NXT Halloween Havoc in a match for the NXT Championship.

Style and Strengths

Trick Williams blends an athletic background with a larger-than-life personality. His 193-centimeter frame and 109-kilogram build give him the presence of a main-event star, and his college football experience translates into stiff strikes and confident brawling. He works comfortably in both high-profile stipulation matches and standard televised contests, leaning on charisma and timing to control the pace of a bout.

Notable Events and Milestones

Williams was the winner of the 2023 men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline, a signature NXT showcase match. He made his video game debut as a downloadable content character in WWE 2K23 and has since appeared in WWE 2K24 and WWE 2K25. He also worked as an extra in the third season of the television series All American and appeared as a guest star portraying Eddie Blair in the show’s seventh-season finale.

Trick Williams Career Wins

Across NXT and TNA, Trick Williams has compiled a championship resume that includes two NXT Championship reigns, one NXT North American Championship reign, and one TNA World Championship reign. His success in the men’s Iron Survivor Challenge and in stipulation matches such as the Last Man Standing and Devil’s Playground contests underscores his versatility. The table below summarizes his verified major title wins.

NXT Highlights

Williams is a two-time NXT Champion. His first reign began at Spring Breakin’ in 2024 and lasted 75 days, while his second reign began during NXT’s CW premiere on October 1, 2024, and ended 98 days later at NXT: New Year’s Evil on January 7, 2025. He is also a former NXT North American Champion, having captured the title at NXT No Mercy on September 30, 2023, though he lost it back to Dominik Mysterio three days later in the shortest reign in the title’s history.

TNA Highlights

Williams is a former TNA World Champion. He defeated Joe Hendry at NXT Battleground on May 25, 2025, to become the first WWE-contracted wrestler to win a TNA championship. He successfully defended the title at Against All Odds, Slammiversary, and Emergence before losing it to Mike Santana at TNA Bound for Glory on October 12, 2025, ending a 140-day reign.

Trick Williams Family

Family Background and Wrestling Lineage

Belton’s father is an alumnus of the University of South Carolina, a connection that helped draw Belton to walk on to the South Carolina Gamecocks football program. While at South Carolina, he played alongside his brothers, André and Hassan, sharing the field with family at the collegiate level. His uncle, who trained him in Philadelphia and inspired the Sweet Daddy Trick persona, played a foundational role in his early wrestling development.

Personal Life

Belton is in a relationship with fellow American professional wrestler Anriel Howard, who competes under the ring name Lash Legend. The couple has been publicly supportive of each other’s careers inside the NXT brand. Belton continues to balance his wrestling schedule with personal commitments in the United States.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 calendar year has been the most expansive of Williams’ career to date, marked by the addition of the TNA World Championship to his trophy case. He began the year losing the NXT Championship to Oba Femi at NXT: New Year’s Evil and continued a feud with Eddy Thorpe that played out through a strap match at NXT Vengeance Day and an NXT Underground match on the March 18 episode of NXT. A turning point came when his character shifted toward a more selfish and entitled persona, culminating in a heel turn and a high-profile rivalry with Joe Hendry.

Williams captured the TNA World Championship from Hendry at NXT Battleground on May 25, 2025, becoming the first WWE-contracted wrestler to hold a TNA title. He defended the championship against Mike Santana, Josh Briggs, Elijah, Hendry and Santana together at Slammiversary, and Moose before losing the title to Santana at TNA Bound for Glory on October 12, 2025, ending his reign at 140 days. In the closing months of the year, he turned his attention back to NXT, challenging Ricky Saints for the NXT Championship at NXT Halloween Havoc.

Looking ahead, Williams remains a central figure on both the NXT brand and in crossover appearances with TNA. His dual-promotional status gives him a unique position among active WWE-contracted talent, and his recent title work has reinforced his standing as a marquee performer. With multiple unfinished rivalries and fresh championship opportunities likely on the horizon, Williams’ 2025 campaign has set the stage for continued main-event contention across both promotions.