WWE Royal Rumble 2021: Making the case for Bianca Belair
The argument for why Bianca Belair should triumph at WWE Royal Rumble 2021.
At the end of January, wrestling fans will hope for a pair of star-making Rumble victories at WWE Royal Rumble 2021. The promotion is in desperate need of a reset, and setting in motion a rise to superstardom for two up-and-coming wrestlers would be the most prudent move. We have seen how Rumble victories for Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre propelled them to become literal top stars on their brand, and it’s time for WWE to take the hint and do the same in 2021.
When I think of “future top star”, Bianca Belair the very first person who pops into my head. WWE seems to feel the same way, too, even though you’d be forgiven for second-guessing them based on how they booked her in NXT. (I still can’t believe she never beat Shayna Baszler for the title!)
From the vignettes to the proclamations from Michael Cole that she was “the best pick in the draft” (because, yes, she was), there are tacit signs that WWE has high hopes for her. And there are more overt ones, as well, in terms of her actual booking.
Let’s go to the most recent example of Bianca looking great at a major Pay Per View. She was one of the biggest stars at Survivor Series. Lana may have gotten the Chronicle and “won” the match as the sole survivor, but we all know Belair had the best moments of the match. She was very much the show, providing clear examples of her command of the ring, excellent timing, and, of course, feats of strength.
Earlier in the year, she was also the most impressive performer in the Royal Rumble match, eliminating competitors left and right to tie Shayna Baszler for the most eliminations. But the way she commanded the ring and performed her moves was more impressive than Baszler. Once again, Bianca didn’t win – Charlotte Flair did – but the EST showed exactly why she has earned that moniker.
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So if WWE wants to say, “Here is your next big superstar,” at WWE Royal Rumble 2021, then there is no better option than Bianca Belair. Aside from her proving herself in the ring at WWE’s biggest Pay Per Views and in NXT title matches, Belair has something even more important. Whenever she is on the screen, she becomes the talk of Twitter and takes the spotlight from everyone else. Remember, she did just that to last year’s Rumble winner, Charlotte, and the NXT Champion Rhea Ripley during their road to WrestleMania.
The only thing that gives me pause when it comes to declaring Belair a Royal Rumble winner is the eventual match at WrestleMania. No, no, the problem isn’t getting Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair. Trust me. That is my biggest dream match, too.
My question is, however, who wins? Because I want to see Sasha hold the title for a year or more, just like Roman Reigns is about to. It’s the same conundrum when it comes to Big E and Roman on the men’s side of the Rumble equation. I want Belair to win the Rumble, but I also want her to win at WrestleMania 37. And yet at the same time, I don’t want Sasha’s reign to end either.
If that’s my biggest reservation, though, it truly weighs very little in comparison to the upshot of having Belair win the Royal Rumble. Least of all because Sasha will still be more than OK without the title, and we’ll have already seen a strong reign from her by then.
Out of all the possible up-and-coming stars who could win the match, Belair is the best. And if we’re talking about opportunities and building stars, shouldn’t those chances go to, you know, the bEST? For years, wrestling fans who have been paying close attention to the product have known that Belair has all the tools to become one of the biggest stars in WWE. To be honest, the company has already waited long enough. More than two years, in fact, because Belair was on most of our radars as a true breakout star by late 2018.
Next. Three men who need to win WWE Royal Rumble 2021. dark
One of WWE’s biggest issues is that they wait on the obvious for too long. Could you imagine if the Seattle Seahawks said, “Nah, let’s wait on this Russell Wilson guy,” and kept starting Matt Flynn? No! Because in pro sports, there’s an urgency to put out your best product and give opportunities to the best people. Pro wrestling needs to be the same. And pro wrestling needs Bianca Belair in the spotlight.