5 WWE backstage stories we learned this week: Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, Triple H, more!

#2 The inspiration behind Bianca Belair’s hair whip

Casual WWE fans may have seen Bianca Belair for the first time when she competed in a Fatal 4-Way match against Io Shirai, Candice LeRae and Mia Yim in the first match of NXT’s new two-hour weekly format.

Although Belair did not use her signature hair whip move in the match, which was won by LeRae, it is safe to assume that followers of the NXT product are likely to have seen it multiple times by the end of the year.

Speaking to Newsweek earlier this week, Belair revealed that her unique offence was created by the assistant head coach at WWE’s Performance Center, Sara Amato.

"I was like 'What?' [when Amato suggested it] so I tried to hit her, and I didn't think much of it, but it started from there. I was in the ring with Ruby Riott, and I hit her and it made this loud noise. That was the first time that I realised that this can be a threat in the ring, and I can use it to my advantage."

Belair’s most famous hair whip attack so far came in April 2018 at WrestleMania 34, where she struck Becky Lynch across the midsection during the Women’s Battle Royal.