Black Wrestler Of The Month Vol. 3: Bianca Belair

WWE’s newest sure thing is primed to dominate 2021 and beyond

I’m a wrestling fan. I’m Black. This presents a conflict: Wrestling is massively racist and always has been. The older I get and the more I understand this, the more I appreciate the Black talent that persevered despite the obstacles in their way. These are the people who captured my imagination and made me fall in love with the genre; their accomplishments are only amplified by what it took for them to succeed. Sadly, the same things that held them back also often lessened their respective impacts — so I want to give these Black wrestlers their flowers.

The Royal Rumble has been an annual WWE staple for more than 30 years. The match traditionally featured 30 men entering the ring, each being eliminated via being tossed off the top rope until one is left standing as the winner. In the past few years, a the event has included an all-women’s Rumble event with the same rule. There have been nearly 40 Rumble events in total. The Rock’s (disputed) win in 2000 was the only time a Black person won the event.

Until last night.