Former SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has commented after being named as the top women’s wrestler of the year in the PWI Women’s 150.
2021 has undoubtedly been the biggest year in the short career of Bianca Belair. The EST of WWE started out by winning Royal Rumble on January 31st before capturing the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37. The match headlined night one of the extravaganza meaning that the two Superstars became the first Black women to feature in the show’s main event.
Despite losing the SmackDown Women’s Title at SummerSlam to Becky Lynch, Belair has remained a fixture at the top of the blue brand.
As part of the 2021 WWE Draft, Bianca Belair was drafted to Raw on night one as the number two pick for the brand and the fourth pick overall.
For the first time ever, the PWI Women’s list was expanded from 100 to 150 with Belair moving up from 23rd spot in 2020 to take the crown. The 2020 list was topped by Belair’s long-time rival Bayley.
Speaking to Mike Jones of DC101 Bianca Belair elaborated on what being named in the number one spot means to her:
“It’s a huge honour. It’s just a lot of validation and I love the validation and recognition that I’m getting but all I can say is that I’m number one this year, but the grind will never stop, it will continue.”
“It’s an amazing journey since 2016 to now, it’s crazy to think it’s only been five years, but to be considered the number one wrestler in the world right now, it’s just an amazing representation and all that I can say is that I’m blessed and going to continue to grind.”
Belair then discussed a woman she knows well and someone she might find herself sharing the ring with once again on Monday nights – Rhea Ripley. The EST of WWE had nothing but praise for Ripley:
“I think we really showcased what we had to bring to the table when we were the last two left at the Royal Rumble in 2021. We really showcased what the future has to bring — and Rhea is amazing.”
“I worked with her so much in NXT and she did great in the RAW brand while I was on the SmackDown brand, but now we’re on the same brand so I’m excited to get back in the ring with her and make magic with Rhea again.”