The day before Money in the Bank, the WWE took part in a community event at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas to help support families in need. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp had the chance to speak with the WWE Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair who was at the event volunteering.
Bianca Belair was originally supposed to face Rhea Ripley at Money in the Bank. However, that had to change because of a brain injury that she suffered last month. Carmella was Ripley's replacement and would face Belair at the Premium Live Event. Belair told Fightful on how she adapts to booking changes.
"It’s been a bit frustrating. It’s been the story of my title reign all the way from Smackdown until now. Every single time I feel like it’s been Carmella that’s stepped in and she’s even stepped in for Money in the Bank. I just know not to underestimate her for Money in the Bank this year either, but I feel like it’s frustrating, but at the same time it’s pushing me to be even better. I’m very adaptable. I got caught slipping last year in Vegas, so she’s always teaching me to be adaptable and be prepared for whatever comes. So she’s making me become a better competitor" Belair said.
This was not the first time Bianca had to handle a different opponent when she spoke about adapting to in the ring changes. Last year at SummerSlam, Bianca was scheduled to defend her title against Sasha Banks. Fightful Select reported that Banks was not cleared to compete.
Bianca Belair wound up up facing Becky Lynch, who turned out to be a surprise opponent at last year's SummerSlam. Lynch defeated Belair to win the SmackDown Women's Championship.
"I think I’ve just been super adaptable with being prepared for whoever my opponent is. I always pride myself on being ready and available and being there for when I need to be there just to show up and show out. Whatever I’m supposed to do that day, be great at my job. When I was first introduced to the main roster crowd was on RAW/SmackDown during the pandemic with no fans. So I’ve had to figure out how to touch people and relate to people and get people to feel. I feel like I’ve been able to adapt a lot. I feel like I have the physical abilities to show that I’m the E-S-T of the WWE, but to be able to adapt with making people feel something I think is something I’ve grown a lot from the most" Belair Said.
.@BiancaBelairWWE's strength won out as she hit a bone-crunching K.O.D. onto Carmella and retained the #WWERaw Women’s Championship! https://t.co/MbBsWov6pr pic.twitter.com/4qEJ3sDhkc
— WWE (@WWE) July 3, 2022
Bianca's first main roster appearance came at the 2019 Survivor Series when she was on team NXT. She would later make her official debut on the main roster in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fightful provided live coverage of the Money in the Bank Premium Live Event. The results can be seen by clicking here.
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