Bianca Belair has revealed she is dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands as her lengthy absence from the ring continues.

Belair shared the update on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of her finger in a brace, revealing she is experiencing numbness and a loss of grip strength.

“No one ever talks about this stuff. Currently carpal tunnel in both hands, fingers completely numb, no feeling in surgery finger whatsoever, no grip strength, and now also Mom thumb. Wtf lol.”

The former Women’s Champion has not wrestled since WrestleMania 41 in April 2025, where she faced Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY in a triple threat for the Women’s World Championship.

Belair later revealed she broke the joint in her finger during a triple German suplex spot from the turnbuckle.

“I broke my knuckle. Not my finger, I broke my knuckle. I broke the joint,” Belair said last year. “It’s something that I thought was gonna be a very straightforward, you know, eight to 12 weeks.”

She added:

“We were going to the top rope, because that’s what we do. And we came off the top rope, and Rhea landed straight on my hand, and it just crushed everything in my finger.”

Belair said the joint broke in three places. Although it eventually healed, she was unable to properly bend it, making an in-ring return unsafe. She underwent surgery in February 2026 and began rehabilitation the following day.

Despite being sidelined, Belair has made several WWE appearances. She served as special guest referee for Jade Cargill vs. Naomi at Evolution and appeared in her hometown of Knoxville.

She was also brought out by John Cena at WrestleMania 42, where she announced her pregnancy in front of the crowd at Allegiant Stadium. Belair later revealed Paul Levesque suggested making the announcement at WrestleMania, allowing her to be part of the show despite being unable to compete.

Her pregnancy was not the reason for her absence from the ring. Belair and husband Montez Ford announced the birth of their son on August 4.

Belair has not revealed what treatment she is receiving for carpal tunnel syndrome or whether the latest issue will affect her recovery timeline.

WWE has yet to announce a return date. Bodyslam+ previously reported that Belair was listed internally without a designated return date and that her rehabilitation had been difficult.

Her injury also reportedly changed plans for WrestleMania 42. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE originally planned for Jade Cargill to defend the Women’s Championship against Belair, which would have required Belair to return in time to win either the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber. Instead, Cargill faced Ripley in Las Vegas.

Belair has been with WWE since 2016 and established herself as one of the company's leading women's stars. Her accomplishments include multiple world and tag team championships, victories in the 2021 Royal Rumble and 2025 Elimination Chamber, and a historic WrestleMania 37 main event against Sasha Banks.

After years as a consistent presence at the top of WWE's women's division, Belair's absence from the ring is now approaching 17 months.

Bianca Belair reveals she’s battling Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

"No one ever talks about this stuff... currently carpal tunnel in both hands... fingers completely numb, no feeling in surgery finger whatsoever, no grip strength, and now also Mom thumb...wtf lol"

(IG) pic.twitter.com/CMaAASCNb8

, J O H N (@RomanEra0) August 25, 2026