So far in 2026, WWE has hit a few bumps in the road. Following critical fan reception of the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, and with ticket sales for WrestleMania 42 still lagging, the company is seeking some much-needed momentum to turn the year around.
Despite the negatives so far, one standout success has brought a completely fresh feel to the product. Insert: Trick Williams. Whether it’s his undeniable charisma or his growing presence in the main event scene, Williams has quickly become one of the company’s biggest bright spots so far this year.
Biography
Born May 26, 1994, in Columbia, South Carolina, Matrick Belton grew up in a house with two brothers and an early introduction to wrestling. By age three, he was already a fan of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and roughhousing was a staple of his childhood, even resulting in a broken collarbone for his younger brother during a makeshift Royal Rumble.
Athleticism ran in the family; both of his brothers eventually played for the South Carolina Gamecocks, following in the footsteps of their father, Patrick Belton, who was a running back for the team.
Belton followed a similar path at wide receiver, beginning his journey at Hampton University (2012 to 2013), before transferring to South Carolina. He played for the Gamecocks from 2014 to 2016 to finish his college career.
Belton attempted to break into the NFL in 2018, earning an invite to a rookie minicamp for the Philadelphia Eagles. When he didn’t make the final roster, he opted to join the Spring League to keep his football dreams alive.
His road into wrestling happened almost by accident after he filled out a questionnaire for former WWE CEO Vince McMahon’s football league, the XFL. The very next day, he received a call, but instead of a football tryout, he was asked a surprising question: would he be interested in trying out for WWE?
Realizing that wrestling might have been his destiny all along, he moved to Philadelphia to train at the Combat Zone Wrestling Academy while working as a fitness coach. He also spent time at the KnokX Academy, located in Los Angeles, California.
