Despite a loss on a major stage, Bianca Belair is pushing herself to reach another level.
Bianca Belair recently spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated and talked about facing pressure to be a top star, noting that it’s even harder to meet expectations after she main evented night one of WrestleMania 37 with Sasha Banks.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself, especially after WrestleMania,” Belair says. “I want people watching my matches to come away recognizing I am some type of -est, whether that is the strongest or the fastest or the toughest. That’s always been the way I felt, and that mindset has definitely intensified.”
Belair moved on to SummerSlam, where she was scheduled to face off with Banks in a rematch for the title, but the night ended with Becky Lynch returning in surprise fashion. Belair lost the match and championship, but she explained how that loss opened the door for more opportunities in her career.
“SummerSlam didn’t go as I would have planned or liked, but it’s created more opportunities for me to get in the ring with Becky Lynch,” Belair says. “Anytime I can get in the ring with Becky, I’m jumping at that opportunity. There’s a reason she’s called ‘The Man.’ She’s done so much and achieved so much. Sharing the ring with her is a chance to show my tenacity. And I took a positive from SummerSlam, which was seeing how so many people were rooting for me. That’s motivation to push me to a whole other level.”
Bianca Belair also spoke about how much of an influence Lynch and the other WWE “Horsewomen” were on her career, explaining that their success led to her pushing herself to step things up.
“When I first started in WWE in 2016, three out of the four were already on SmackDown or Raw,” Belair says. “They were an inspiration to me. I had the chance to see Bayley’s work ethic up close, and I kept telling myself that these women were once where I was in NXT. Now, when I step in the ring with them, it’s proof of how far I’ve come. Every time you wrestle one of them, you have to step up your game.
“If you’re in the ring with Charlotte Flair, you have to bring it. Becky Lynch just had a baby and came back even better. Sasha Banks brings the absolute best out of me, and Bayley is just amazing. They paved the road for so many of us.”
