Belair could return to WWE in 2026 after WrestleMania hand injury

Bianca Belair could be cleared to return to WWE action in early 2026 after a hand injury sustained at WrestleMania 41 in April left her sidelined for months, WWE sources said. The company now expects a comeback in the first part of next year, though no official date has been set and an earlier return remains possible.

Belair suffered the injury during a triple threat match against IYO Sky and Rhea Ripley. The damage was more severe than initially believed. Belair has said the finger was broken in three places and that the joint was damaged, leaving the digit unable to bend. "I broke it in three places and the joint. It healed, but it won't bend. You can't wrestle with a straight finger because it'll break again," she said in an interview, describing ongoing limitations that have complicated her recovery. She has also recounted how her hand was trapped under an opponent during a top-rope German suplex, which produced immediate, intense pain and the realization that the injury was serious.

People familiar with the situation said the injury affected the knuckle and caused significant swelling, and that WWE initially expected a shorter absence before recognizing the break was more...