Bianca Belair Reflects On Hell In A Cell Match, Credits Bayley For Challenging Her Mentally

Bianca Belair stepped inside Hell in a Cell the first time in June when she defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Bayley.

Bayley and Belair feuded for months following Belair’s victory over Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 where she captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Speaking to Ryan Satin on Out of Character, Belair reflected on Hell in a Cell and her feud with Bayley.

“Bayley is so talented and the amazing thing is that she is so talented that she makes it look so easy and sometimes I don’t feel like she gets the credit she deserves because she makes it look so easy. I have learned so much from Bayley, even outside of the ring. Just watching how she adapts and handles things. Her creativity, her mind, her persona, charisma, wrestling skills and ability. Everything about Bayley, she’s a locker room leader, a legend in the making. I feel like I learned so much from Bayley, especially at Hell in a Cell. A new side of Bianca Belair came out. I wear this long braid and the first thing people want to do is touch my braid. I have to give a reason for people to not want to touch my braid and she helped me showcase what happens when you touch my hair, you’re never going to win that war. She also challenged me mentally. Physically, I’m strong, fast, tough, rough, but even if you look at my backstory, mentally is the part that would always get me and was my struggle. She really tried to get me mentally and helped me grow mentally as a competitor, which is the biggest part when you’re competing. If you’re not there (in your mind), you’re not going to be able to succeed. Working with Bayley really grew me mentally, which is going to help me even more when I get in the ring with Sasha Banks,” she said.

Belair was victorious inside Hell in a Cell, which was announced last-minute as Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio, which was originally set for the pay-per-view, was moved to SmackDown.

Speaking about her Hell in a Cell match, Belair said, “That was one of the most intense matches I’ve been a part of. I was really excited to get in the Cell because I was the first woman to be in Hell in a Cell that wasn’t a Four Horsewomen. I had to go in there and, I don’t call myself the roughest and toughest, and not come out on top in this match. I feel like that’s what I needed for my title reign and it was good to have after WrestleMania to build my confidence and build the fan’s confidence in me as the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Bayley brought that out of me and I thank her for that. She brought it out of me and I will use that in the future.”

Bayley and Belair were scheduled to meet again at Money in the Bank, but an injury to Bayley forced her out of the match.

Belair is scheduled to defend the SmackDown Women’s Title against Sasha Banks at WWE SummerSlam. You can view the current lineup for WWE SummerSlam by clicking here.

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.