Raw Women’s title match confirmed for WWE WrestleMania Backlash
Sonya Deville will officially be the first challenger for Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship.
During Wednesday’s episode of WWE’s The Bump, it was announced that Belair will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Deville at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday, May 8. The title match was set up on Raw earlier this week.
Belair won the Raw Women’s Championship by defeating Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 night one.
Belair defeated Zelina Vega in a match on Raw this week. After the match, Deville appeared and mentioned Lynch, Rhea Ripley, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Doudrop, and Dana Brooke as potential first challengers for Belair. Belair said she was ready for whoever Deville had.
Belair signed an open contract for a title match and was waiting for her opponent to emerge. But Deville attacked Belair from behind, named herself as Belair’s challenger, and signed the contract.
Deville has been an on-screen authority figure for WWE since the beginning of 2021. She’s also wrestled while being an authority figure.
In a backstage segment on Raw, fellow authority figure Adam Pearce told Deville that naming herself as Belair’s next challenger was a complete and total abuse of power. Pearce said he couldn’t believe Deville thought she was going to get away with it. Deville said she made it official — and there’s nothing Pearce can do to stop her.
WrestleMania Backlash is being held at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
- “I Quit” match: SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Ronda Rousey
- Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
- Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Sonya Deville