Three-time WWE Women’s Champion Bianca Belair has officially undergone successful surgery to repair a severe hand injury that has kept her sidelined for nearly a year. The “EST of WWE” shared the update with fans via her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, revealing that she began physical therapy just one day after the procedure.
Belair jokingly questioned the early start time of her rehabilitation, posting a photo with the caption: “7 AM Therapy. 1st day after surgery… Now why it have to be at 7 am?!!”
The injury dates back to April 20, 2025, during a Triple Threat match for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 41. Competing against Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, Belair suffered a break when Ripley accidentally landed on her hand.
While initial reports described the injury as a finger broken in three places, Belair later clarified that the damage was specifically to her knuckle and the surrounding joint. In a recent interview with BET’s 106 & Sports, Belair explained the gruesome details of the trauma. She clarified that it was much more than a simple finger fracture.
“So I broke my knuckle, not my finger, I broke my knuckle, I broke the joint,” she explained. “It’s something that I thought was going to be a very straightforward 8-12 weeks. It’s been almost six months at this point.”
Despite being unable to compete, Belair made a return to WWE programming in July 2025 at the all-women’s Evolution Premium Live Event. During that event, she served as the special guest referee for a “No Holds Barred” match between Jade Cargill and Naomi.
However, her involvement remained limited to non-wrestling roles as the rehab process proved to be significantly more complicated than originally anticipated. Before she announced on Monday that she had intended to undergo surgery, WWE reportedly had plans for Belair in the works for WrestleMania 42 in April.
