Rhea Ripley recently spoke about how much WWE is missing Bianca Belair, saying things just don’t feel the same since her absence.
Belair has been out for almost a year after suffering a serious hand injury at WrestleMania 41. The match, which also included IYO SKY, was one of the highlights of the night. But during the match, Belair got hurt. At first, it looked like a small finger injury, but it turned out to be much worse.
Rhea Ripley says WWE isn’t the same without Bianca Belair
Talking about it in a recent interview with Shak Wrestling, Rhea Ripley said she really misses Belair. She said that Belair brought a lot of energy and hard work to the women’s division, and her absence is felt by everyone backstage.
“It’s honestly not the same without Bianca there. I miss her. I hope that she comes back soon, but at the same time, I also hope she’s living her best life, not having to go to work for a little bit. She’s busted her ass for so long. They’ve literally made her do so much and work so much. She deserves the time off,” Ripley said.
The WWE star also explained how serious the injury actually was. What seemed like a small issue turned into a big problem.
“I wish it was under a better circumstance because that finger be looking nasty. It’s shocked me that’s she’s been out for nearly a year from a finger injury. Something that seems so small is something that’s so big. And I’ve seen the photos. She sent me the photos, so thank you, Bianca. They’re pretty gnarly looking. I just really hope that she comes back soon,” Ripley added.
Belair had a broken knuckle and joint, which made it hard for her to even grip things. The injury also took longer to heal, and she eventually needed surgery.
The good news is that Belair is slowly recovering. After her surgery in early 2026, she has moved from rehab to light training in the ring.
Read More: Update On Bianca Belair’s WWE Return Status Amid TV Absence — REPORT
