
Injured WWE Wrestler Is Getting Closer to In-Ring Return: Report
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A positive update has emerged on the status of former WWE Women's Champion Bianca Belair. According to a new report, the "EST of WWE" is closing in on a return to the ring after being sidelined with an injury for nearly four months.
The report states that Belair is expected to be medically cleared for in-ring action as early as next week. This is welcome news for the SmackDown women's division.
According to sources, we are told Bianca Belair is closing in on her return. The former 3 time Women's Champion is expected to be cleared for action this upcoming week and could appear as soon as the SmackDown following SummerSlam on 8/9. She won't be cleared ahead of this… — WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) July 31, 2025
Expected To Be Cleared Soon
While a specific return date is not set, the report indicates a potential comeback could happen on the episode of Friday Night SmackDown following SummerSlam on August 8th. However, the source clarified that Belair will not be cleared in time for a surprise appearance at this weekend's premium live event.
Belair has been out of action since suffering a serious finger injury. The injury occurred during her triple-threat match at WrestleMania 41 this past April.
The "EST" Sidelined
The injury was a major setback for Belair, as it came while she was one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. She and her partner, Jade Cargill, were forced to vacate the championships due to the injury. Her only on-screen appearance since then was as the special guest referee for the match between Jade Cargill and Naomi at the Evolution premium live event earlier this month.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
As one of the most decorated women in modern WWE history, Belair's absence has been deeply felt. The "EST of WWE" is a former Royal Rumble winner and made history by winning the main event of WrestleMania 37 against Sasha Banks.
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
A Changed Landscape
Bianca Belair will be returning to a very different SmackDown women's division than the one she left. In her absence, her former tag team partner, Jade Cargill, has embarked on a dominant singles run. Cargill is now scheduled to challenge Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam this weekend.
Belair's impending return could have major implications for the entire division. She could choose to support her friend Jade, reunite with her to reclaim their tag team titles, or enter the singles championship picture herself, creating a host of exciting new storyline possibilities on the blue brand.
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Hypebeast
an hour ago
- Hypebeast
WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN
Summary In a landmark agreement that reshapes the sports entertainment landscape,WWEhas finalized a multi-year deal withESPN, granting the Disney-owned company exclusive U.S. domestic streaming rights to all WWE Premium Live Events. The deal, valued at $1.6 billion USD over five years, marks a significant strategic victory for WWE and a pivotal move for ESPN's ambitious new streaming service. The agreement, which begins in 2026, will see all of WWE's marquee events—includingWrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series—move exclusively to ESPN's platforms in the U.S. This marks a major shift from WWE's current partnership with NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is set to expire in March 2026. This move aligns WWE's distribution model more closely with that of the UFC, which has seen immense success under the ESPN banner. For ESPN, the deal is a cornerstone of its new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, which is launching on August 21st at a price of $29.99 USD per month. WWE's 'immense, devoted and passionate fanbase' is a key draw, with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noting that the addition of WWE's biggest events will bolster their content portfolio and 'drive our streaming future.' The statement reads, 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.' The deal not only grants ESPN the rights to the premium live events themselves but also the opportunity to stream pre- and post-show content, fully integrating WWE into its sports media ecosystem. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO said, 'We are proud to reinforce the 'E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can't-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.' This partnership is part of a larger, aggressive push by ESPN to secure high-profile live event rights ahead of its new streaming service. The company recently finalized a deal with the NFL, which includes an equity stake for the league in exchange for media assets, and is reportedly in talks with Major League Baseball for a new rights package. The WWE deal, therefore, positions ESPN as a formidable force in the streaming wars, leveraging a wide range of live sports and entertainment to attract a diverse audience. While the deal is a massive financial success for WWE, it comes with a potential challenge for fans. The new ESPN streaming service will cost $29.99 USD per month, a significant increase from the $10.99 USD monthly price WWE fans currently pay for Peacock's unlimited plan. However, reports suggest that existing cable and satellite subscribers who receive ESPN as part of their package may be able to access the new WWE content at no additional cost through authentication. This development sets the stage for a new era of WWE viewing, where a single, dedicated platform becomes the exclusive home for all of the company's biggest events. Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to@espnplatforms in the U.S. starting in — WWE (@WWE)August 6, 2025
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Grayson Waller Is In The Best Shape Ever After Dropping A Huge Amount Of Weight
Grayson Waller feels like a new man. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller have been teaming as 'A-Town Down Under' for the better part of two years now. However, WWE teased their split and an eventual feud for the past several months. Despite the tease, the duo never broke up and feuded. In fact, the 'official' split took place off camera, and it happened without much of an explanation. Last week, Waller sent a message to 'all five' of Austin Theory's fans on social media. (This was after Waller tried to join The New Day on WWE RAW.) Waller says Theory's fans should thank him for saving Theory's career after John Cena buried him on WWE RAW two years ago. 'Big G' said he wasted two years making Theory relevant, but that's over now. Now, Waller has continued taking shots at Theory on social media. Waller joked that he's in the best shape of his life now that he has dropped '220 lbs of dead weight.' Theory is reportedly out with an injury. His last match was a loss to El Grande Americano on the July 17 episode of WWE Main Event. A-Town Down Under's last match was a win over the LWO on the May 26 episode of Main Event. In May, Waller also shared his frustrations with Theory on The Amin Show. Waller said that Theory is a good guy, but he lacks a certain killer instinct. 'For right now, we are working as a team. Maybe he's not working the same way that I am. I think the problem with Austin Theory is that he's a good guy. He's not what people assume he is, and that kind of frustrates me at times, like he's not willing to do whatever it takes. We're walking into the venue, and he wants to stop and take photos with the kids and the fat blokes with the black shirts on. That's just not me. I'm there to work, I'm there for myself, and sometimes we don't see eye to eye. But the problem is, we're both supremely talented, so as a tag team, we work pretty well,' Grayson Waller said. Read More: The post Grayson Waller Is In The Best Shape Ever After Dropping A Huge Amount Of Weight appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Report: Update On Austin Theory's WWE Status
What's going on between Austin Theory and WWE? A few weeks ago, Austin Theory was written off WWE programming off-camera on Monday Night Raw. As the company shifted Grayson Waller into a story with The New Day. Theory hasn't competed for WWE since losing a match to El Grande Americano during a Main Event taping on July 14. No rumblings emerged following that match in regards to an injury to Theory. So what exactly is his status with the company? According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, WWE sources have informed him that Theory has been removed from the company's internal active roster. While references to an injury for Theory have been made on WWE programming, whatever issue he is dealing with is currently unknown. Stay tuned to WrestleZone for more information on Austin Theory's WWE status as it becomes available. READ MORE: Grayson Waller Is In The Best Shape Ever After Dropping A Huge Amount Of Weight What do you make of this report? Are you disappointed WWE had Grayson Waller and Austin Theory break up off-screen? What do you think of Waller's current storyline with The New Day? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. The post Report: Update On Austin Theory's WWE Status appeared first on Wrestlezone.