Rhea Ripley says WWE has felt different without Bianca Belair, and she wants her back. Ripley said recently that it is “not the same” without Belair there, adding that she misses her and hopes she returns soon after nearly a year away from the ring.
Belair has been sidelined since suffering a serious hand injury at WrestleMania 41, where she was in a match that also included IYO SKY. What first looked like a small finger injury during the bout later turned out to be much worse, forcing Belair into surgery and a long recovery.
Ripley told Shak Wrestling that Belair brought energy and hard work to the women’s division and that her absence is felt backstage, too. She also said Belair deserves time away after years of giving so much to the company, even if the break came under difficult circumstances.
The injury was more severe than it first appeared. Belair had a broken knuckle and joint, and after surgery in early 2026 she moved from rehab to light training in the ring, a sign that a full return is getting closer even if no date has been announced.
For Ripley, the point is simple: the division loses something when Belair is gone. For Belair, the next step is steady progress, and for WWE, the question is when one of its most visible stars will be able to bring that energy back to the show.
