Bianca Belair remains sidelined after suffering a significant hand injury during her WrestleMania 41 match against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. Initially reported as a broken finger, Belair later revealed that the actual injury was a broken knuckle, which has prolonged her recovery period well beyond typical healing times for wrestlers. This delay has fueled speculation about her WWE comeback prospects.
Despite reports suggesting WWE hoped to see Belair back in the ring by early 2026 and her being favored to win the 2026 women’s Royal Rumble before the event in Saudi Arabia, the comeback has yet to materialize. Recently, Nattie took to social media to address rumors after posting a photo featuring several wrestlers training at her Dungeon facility, where one face was obscured with an emoji. Because Montez Ford, Belair’s husband, and his tag team partner Angelo Dawkins were also present, many fans speculated that the hidden figure might be Belair preparing for a return.
However, Nattie dispelled these hopes with a brief statement:
“Not Bianca…”
—confirming that Belair is not currently training at the Dungeon and is not the mystery wrestler seen in the photo.
Belair’s Injury Leads to Extended Downtime
Wrestlers typically manage finger injuries with minor recovery times or by continuing to perform despite the injury. In Belair’s case, the broken knuckle has caused a much longer absence than anticipated, delaying her comeback plans. This unexpected hurdle has generated uncertainty about when fans might witness her back in action.
Context of Recent WWE Developments and Related Stories
While speculation surrounds Belair, other WWE storylines continue evolving. Jey Uso recently secured a win in the final Elimination Chamber qualifying match, positioning himself as a strong contender for WrestleMania 42. Meanwhile, Sol Ruca experienced a major setback when she was betrayed ahead of her NXT Women’s Championship opportunity.
AJ Styles’ retirement from WWE was attributed by a former stablemate to health issues, adding to the ongoing discussions about the wellbeing of wrestlers within the organization. Additionally, WWE fans were surprised by a revelation from Liv Morgan, who shared that she enjoys considerable creative influence over her character and story arcs.
Outside these events, Cody Rhodes expressed interest in confronting a rising WWE star, while also mistakenly mispronouncing Stephanie Vaquer’s name during an ESPN appearance. Adding to the tense atmosphere, an ex-WWE Diva publicly criticized Janel Grant following a recent TKO and challenge call-out.
The Impact of Bianca Belair’s Continued Absence
Bianca Belair’s prolonged recovery imposes challenges for WWE’s women’s division, especially given her status as a top competitor and crowd favorite. Her delayed return affects storyline possibilities and fan expectations ahead of major events like WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble. With Nattie’s confirmation that Belair is not secretly training yet, the wrestling community remains cautious about when the former champion will make her anticipated comeback.
As WWE continues to build toward future events, Belair’s recovery and eventual return will be closely monitored by fans and insiders alike, with her comeback holding the potential to significantly influence women’s wrestling narrative in 2026 and beyond.
Not Bianca…❤️
— THE LOWKEY LEGEND (@NatbyNature) February 26, 2026
