Bianca Belair
| Bianca Belair | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bianca Blair |
| Born | April 9, 1989 Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Montez Ford (engaged) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bianca Belair[1] Bianca Blair Binky Blair[2] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Billed weight | 155 lb (70 kg) |
| Billed from | Knoxville, Tennessee[3] |
| Trained by | WWE Performance Center |
| Debut | September 29, 2016 |
Bianca Blair[4] (born April 9, 1989)[5] is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where she performs in their developmental territory NXT under the ring name Bianca Belair.[1]
Early life
Blair was a track and field athlete, more specifically a hurdler, who had what ESPN writer Sean Hurd called "a volatile six-year track career" that saw her attend three universities in all.[6] She first attended the University of South Carolina and then Texas A&M University, and later did not compete at all for a year, before completing her college career at the University of Tennessee, where she became All-SEC and All-American as well as being named to the SEC's academic honor roll in 2011 and 2012.[7][6] She was also a CrossFit competitor and powerlifter, having appeared in RX magazine, Femme Rouge magazine, and CrossFit.com. Blair was forced to abandon her CrossFit career due to intercostal chondritis, also known as shifting rib syndrome.[6]
Professional wrestling career
WWE
NXT (2016–present)
Blair entered her information into the WWE prospects database shortly after the premature end of her CrossFit career "more on a whim than with an actual plan", according to Hurd.[6] Less than two weeks later, she received a social media message from 20-year WWE veteran Mark Henry, who had come across Blair's profile on the CrossFit circuit, saying he could get her a tryout, but emphasized that she had to do the work.[6] After two official tryouts,[6] Blair signed a contract with WWE on April 12, 2016, and was assigned to the WWE Performance Center.[4] Blair made her first appearance during an in-ring segment at an NXT house show on June 25, 2016.[2] On September 29, 2016, she made her in-ring debut during an NXT live event in a losing effort against Aliyah.[8] On the May 3, 2017 episode of NXT, Blair made her television debut in a battle royal to determine the No. 1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship, where she was eliminated by Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.[9] On June 23, Belair defeated Aliyah to qualify for the Mae Young Classic.[3] On July 13, Belair defeated Sage Beckett in the first round of the tournament.[10] The following day, Belair was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Kairi Sane.[11]
Personal life
On June 9, 2017, it was announced that Blair was engaged to fellow wrestler Montez Ford.[12]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Flapjack powerbomb[13][14]
- "Kiss of Death" Spear[15]
- Signature moves
- Nicknames
- "The EST of NXT"[12]
- Entrance themes
References
- ^ a b "Bianca Belair". WWE. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ a b "NXT Cocoa, FL, live results: Bobby Roode makes his Florida NXT debut". 25 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Japanese phenom Kairi Sane sets course for Mae Young Classic". Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ a b WWE.com Staff (April 12, 2016). "WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits". WWE. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Bianca Blair - 2012-13 Track & Field / XC Roster - University of Tennessee Athletics". www.utsports.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Hurd, Sean (August 22, 2017). "Mae Young contestant Bianca Blair seeks to fulfill athletic potential in WWE". ESPNW. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
- ^ "Bianca Blair Bio - University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site". Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "NXT Lakeland, FL, live results: The Drifter returns; Asuka teams with Ember Moon". 29 September 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "WWE NXT REPORT: NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE WOMEN'S TITLE, WHO IS RODERICK STRONG . . . PART 2, BURCH VS DAIN, AND MORE - PWInsider.com". pwinsider.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Williams, JJ (July 13, 2017). "WWE Mae Young Classic taping spoilers: The tournament begins". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ Williams, JJ (July 14, 2017). "WWE Mae Young Classic taping spoilers: The finals are set". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "NXT's Bianca Blair announces engagement". Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "NXT TV TAPING SPOILERS: FALLOUT FROM BROOKLYN". August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- ^ "NXT TAMPA, FL, LIVE RESULTS: MCINTYRE AND SANITY DEFEND THEIR TITLES". August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
- ^ "NXT TV taping spoilers: All three titles on the line". June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ The Mad Viking (20 April 2017). "NXT Live !!! Tampa Fla. 4-20-17". Retrieved 26 June 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ eMinor. "We Do It Better - Wordsmith". ReverbNation. Retrieved 26 June 2017.