Bianca Belair doesn’t care what title she holds amid speculation of a belt switch

Bianca Belair has stated she doesn’t mind what title she holds because all she cares about is being champion, after she was drafted to SmackDown with the Raw Women’s title. 

Belair has been Raw Women’s Champion for a record 417 days, since defeating Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, however, she was moved to SmackDown WWE’s draft earlier this month despite holding the red brand’s title. 

In a further twist, Rhea Ripley, the SmackDown Women’s Champion moved in the opposite direction, meaning she holds the blue brand’s title whilst competing on Monday Night Raw. 

The move has prompted speculation that we could see a belt trade between the two Superstars, with the hope it would go down better than the disastrous switch between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in 2021, where Flair’s reluctance to make the swap made for awkward viewing. 

However, in an exclusive interview with Sportsmail, the EST of WWE denied any knowledge of a possible repeat of a belt switch and stated that all she care’s about is being a champion – whatever belt she holds. 

Rhea Ripley is the SmackDown Women’s Champion but a member of the Raw roster 

‘Erm…I don’t know! All I know is that I got drafted to SmackDown and in my mind I’m like I’m guess I’m going to SmackDown so I guess I’m going to be the SmackDown champion – because wherever I go I’m going to be the champion. But then Rhea got drafted to Raw, so I don’t know.’  Bianca said when asked about a possible trade. 

‘Right now I’m on SmackDown and I’m the Raw champion, so as long as I’m champion that’s all I care about.

I know I’m on SmackDown but it’s really cool to have the Raw title because when the draft happened I thought oh my goodness if I go to SmackDown, do I get the SmackDown title? Because the draft happened a week before I broke the record, so I was like is it going to switch before I break the record? 

We’ll just have to see what happens and I think it just makes things really exciting because we don’t really know what will happen and what could happen.’

Right now Bianca remains the Raw Women’s Champion and will defend her title and record-breaking reign when she takes on Asuka at Night of Champions this Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Her reign is the longest running title run of any woman in the modern era, but it’s a milestone that WWE haven’t championed as much as Roman Reigns all-conquering run with the Undisputed Championship. 

Belair believes her run is as big of a deal, but also admits that to being so busy that the time has gone so fast  

The EST of WWE is on a record-breaking 417-day reign as the Raw Women’s Champion 

The busy schedule of a WWE champion sees Belair make regular appearances at big events 

‘I’m like we need to be celebrating this more – this is a big deal.’ 

‘But I feel also it makes me downplay it a little bit more because someone mentioned it to me last week and said ‘Wow, 400 odd days that’s a big deal’ and I was like (shouting) ‘You’re right! This is a big deal!’ I need people to hype me up, too. 

I have to pinch myself and remind myself sometimes, because I think being the champion and having that championship schedule, you’re always on the go, it’s like go, go, go, go. So, 400 days, the time just goes so quickly. But then when I look back at my title defences and all the amazing matches I’ve been able to have, and all the WrestleMania’s – it’s a lot! 

And I’m blessed and I’m honoured, and I’m just trying to go for as long as possible. I feel I’ve now put myself in the position where I’ve gone threepeat at WrestleMania, but is this a new thing, is this a WrestleMania streak? 

Now you’ve gone 400 days, you’re the longest reigning women’s champion of the modern era, how long are you going to go? It’s like whoah! I feel like whenever I’m in a match there’s always these stakes at the table kind of thing.’ 

Bianca’s showdown with Asuka is part of a huge card on Saturday night, that also sees Cody Rhodes rematch with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns teaming up with Solo Sikoa to challenge Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles.  

Make sure you catch Night of Champions this Saturday on WWE Network from 6pm BST