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Before Trick Williams entered the ring, Matrick Belton was tearing up the football field.
Belton was one of the best high school football players in South Carolina before deciding to commit to Hampton University and then joining the University of South Carolina as an assistant. He ended up graduating from South Carolina and tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster at minicamp.
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Trick Williams celebrates during WrestleMania 42: Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 19, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
The football dream did not materialize, but WWE would influence him to train as a professional wrestler. He made his debut on WWE NXT in September 2021 and quickly became a fan favorite.
In an interview with Pak Gazette Digital, he shed some light on how playing college football prepared him to make the jump to professional wrestling.
“I’m just learning to persevere,” he said. I played at Hampton and decided to continue at the University of South Carolina. Being a companion was not easy and it taught me to be mentally strong. I remember there were certain moments where I was like, ‘Hey, you can’t hang out with the rest of the team.’ You don’t get these extra meals with the rest of the team.
WWE United States Champion Trick Williams makes his entrance during SmackDown at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on April 24, 2026. (Michael Marqués/WWE)
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“I remember this big resentment on my shoulder. I have to prove myself to you. I have to prove myself to the rest of the coaches. I have to prove myself to the world. That resentment isn’t going anywhere, man. That’s why I work so hard…”
Belton peaked in NXT, winning the NXT Championship twice, the NXT North American Championship, and even holding the Total Nonstop Action (TNA) World Championship at one point.
He made his debut at WrestleMania 42 against Sami Zayn on Sunday night and won the United States Championship from him.
Trick Williams attends Netflix Presents: The Raw Brunch in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 20, 2026. (David Becker/Getty Images for Netflix)
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The entire audience of over 50,000 people sang “Whoop that Trick” as he walked out of the ring. It’s a testament to how far he’s come as a professional wrestler and athlete.
