BIANCA BELAIR

Bianca Nicole Crawford is a 34-year-old professional wrestler from Knoxville, Tennessee. Crawford is currently signed with the WWE and performs on the company’s SmackDown brand under the ring name, Bianca Belair.

Before becoming a professional wrestler, Bianca was a track and field athlete competing in hurdles in university. She attended three universities but completed her studies at the University of Tennessee where she became All-SEC and All-American. Bianca also had success in CrossFit competition but had to retire due to intercostal chondritis.

In 2016, Bianca submitted her information to the WWE prospects database after her Crossfit career ended prematurely. Two weeks later, she received a message from WWE veteran, Mark Henry, who convinced her to try out after he saw her profile on the CrossFit circuit.

Bianca Belair’s WWE Debut

After two tryouts, Bianca signed a contract with the WWE in April 2016. She was assigned to the company’s Performance Center in Florida. Her debut was at a NXT show in September and was defeated by Aliyah. Bianca’s televised in-ring debut took place in May 2017 on an episode of NXT. She then competed in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship but was eliminated by Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.

In June 2017, she qualified to compete in the Mae Young Classic tournament. She defeated Sage Beckett in the first round but was eliminated in the second round by Kairi Sane.

Bianca Belair’s Winning Streak

After the Mae Young tournament, Bianca began a winning streak by defeating Lacey Evans, Candice LeRae, Aliyah, and others. She then made her WrestleMania debut competing in the Women’s Battle Royal but was eliminated by Becky Lynch. In December, she became the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Championship held by Shayna Baszler. At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, Belair lost to Shayna Baszler after Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke interfered multiple times. This also ended her undefeated streak at 367 days.

Throughout 2019, Belair fought in various matches against superstars like Mia Yim, Candice LeRae, Xia Li and Io Shirai. In November, she was one of many NXT wrestlers to invade SmackDown and RAW with Triple H. At Survivor Series, Belair was part of Team NXT (along with Ripley, LeRae, Shirai, and Toni Storm) who defeated Team RAW (Charlotte Flair, Natalya, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Sarah Logan) and Team SmackDown (Sasha Banks, Carmella, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, and Nikki Cross) in the 5-on-5-on-5 women’s elimination match.

Bianca Belair Wins Women’s Battle Royal

In January 2020, Bianca Belair won a women’s battle royal to earn a NXT Women’s Championship match against Rhea Ripley at NXT TakeOver: Portland. Belair faced Ripley for the title at NXT TakeOver: Portland but lost. She also entered the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble in January 2020 but was eliminated by Charlotte Flair.

After WrestleMania 36, Bianca was called up to the main roster and performed on RAW. At the 2020 WWE Draft in October, Bianca Belair was drafted to WWE’s SmackDown brand. On the February 26th episode of SmackDown, Belair challenged Women’s SmackDown champion Sasha Banks to a title match at WrestleMania.

Bianca Belair Wins SmackDown Championship

Bianca Belair battled Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 on Night One and defeated her for the WWE Women’s SmackDown Championship. She retained the title against Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash, and at Hell in a Cell in a Hell in a Cell match.

At SummerSlam 2021, Bianca Belair was scheduled to defend her title against Sasha Banks. But during the event, WWE announced that Banks could not compete and would be replaced by Carmella.

Before the match began, Carmella was attacked by a returning Becky Lynch, who challenged Belair for the title. Belair accepted and lost the match in 30 seconds after two moves by Lynch. Her reign lasted 133 days.

Bianca Belair Drafted to Monday Night RAW

On the first night of the WWE Draft in October 2021, Bianca Belair was drafted to Monday Night RAW. At Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia, Bianca Belair won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match. With this win she guaranteed herself a match at WrestleMania 38.

Belair Wins Gold at WrestleMania 38

On Night 1 of WrestleMania 38, Bianca Belair defeated Becky Lynch in a fast-paced, grueling match to win the RAW Women’s Championship. Despite interference from Carmella and Queen Zelina, Belair retained her title against WWE official Sonya Deville on the April 25th episode of RAW. Belair then retained the title against Asuka and Lynch in a triple threat match at Hell in a Cell on June 5th, and against Carmella on July 2 at Money in the Bank. On the July 1th episode of RAW, Bianca Belair lost a rematch by countout due to interference from Lynch but retained the title, until defeating Carmella in another rematch the following week.

At SummerSlam on July 30th, Belair retained the title against Lynch. After the match, they embraced each other, ending their feud. However, Lynch and Belair were confronted by the returning Bayley and her new allies Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, reigniting their feud. On the August 8th episode of RAW, they challenged Belair, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka to a six-woman tag team match at Clash at the Castle, which they accepted.

At the event on September 3rd, they lost to Damage CTRL when Bayley pinned her. At Extreme Rules on October 8th, Belair retained the RAW Women’s Championship against Bayley in a ladder match.

Belair Reaches 200 Days as Champion

On October 19th, Belair reached 200 days as champion, making her the longest-reigning African American world champion in WWE history, male or female. At Crown Jewel on November 5, Belair retained the title against Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match. Three weeks later at Survivor Series WarGames on November 26th, Belair, Asuka, Bliss, Lynch, and Mia Yim defeated Damage CTRL (Bayley, Kai, Sky), Nikki Cross and Rhea Ripley in a WarGames match after Lynch pinned Kai.

On the January 2, 2023 episode of RAW, Belair retained her title against Bliss by disqualification after Bliss attacked Belair and the referee. A rematch between the two was later scheduled for the Royal Rumble on January 28th where Belair retained the title against Bliss. A rematch between Belair and Bliss was later scheduled for the Royal Rumble on January 28. At the match, Belair retained the title against Bliss. On Night 2 of WrestleMania 39 on April 2, 2023, Belair defeated Asuka, retaining her title.

As part of the 2023 WWE Draft, Belair was drafted to the SmackDown brand along with the Raw Women’s Championship. On May 6 at Backlash, Belair retained the title against Iyo Sky. This win made Belair the longest-reigning Raw Women’s Champion, surpassing Becky Lynch’s reign of 398 days, subsequently being the longest reign of any WWE women’s championship since Trish Stratus’ reign with the original WWE Women’s Championship in 2006, with WWE promoting Belair as the longest-reigning women’s champion of the modern era. At Night of Champions on May 27, Belair lost the championship to Asuka. Her reign ended at 420 days – a record-setting reign.

Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair

STATS

Birth name: Bianca Nicole Crawford
Born: April 9, 1989 Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Height: 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight: 155 lb (70kg)
Spouse: Montez Ford (Kenneth Crawford)
Ring Name(s): Bianca Belair, Bianca Blair, Binky Blair
Current Roster: WWE SmackDown
Finishing Move(s): K.O.D.

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Career Championships & Accomplishments

  • World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
    • WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship (1 time)
    • WWE Women’s Championship (2 times)
    • Women’s Royal Rumble Winner (2021)