Matrick Mondre Belton, known professionally as Trick Williams, is a 31-year-old American professional wrestler currently performing on WWE’s SmackDown brand. He was born on May 26, 1994, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Before becoming a wrestler, he played college football. His athletic background helped him transition into wrestling, where he has become one of WWE’s fastest-rising stars.
He is a former two-time NXT Champion and made history in 2025 as the first WWE-contracted wrestler to win the TNA World Championship. His catchphrase “Whoop That Trick” has become one of the most popular chants in wrestling today.
Growing Up in South Carolina
Matrick was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. Details about his parents remain mostly private, though he has mentioned growing up in a supportive family environment.
He has brothers who also played football. His athletic family background encouraged competition and hard work from an early age. Sports became a central part of his childhood.
Growing up in South Carolina meant he was surrounded by strong football culture. Many kids in the area dreamed of playing college or professional football, and Matrick was no different.
His early years focused on developing athletic skills through various sports. Football eventually became his main focus during high school, where he showed enough promise to earn college scholarships.
College Football Career
Matrick attended Hampton University in Virginia on a full football scholarship in 2012. He played as a wide receiver for the Hampton Pirates during the 2013 season.
After one year at Hampton, he transferred to the University of South Carolina. He walked on to the South Carolina Gamecocks football team, where his brothers also played. Being on the same team as his siblings made the experience more meaningful.
He played for South Carolina from 2014 to 2016. During his college career, he caught 11 passes for 121 yards, all of which came during the 2015 season.
He graduated with a degree in physical education in 2016. Balancing academics with athletics taught him discipline that would later help in his wrestling career.
After graduation in 2017, he went undrafted in the NFL Draft. This was disappointing, but he did not give up on his athletic dreams immediately.
Life After College Football
Following the 2017 draft, Matrick tried to continue his football career. He participated in The Spring League in 2018, which is a developmental football league that gives players exposure to NFL scouts.
He also attended a rookie minicamp tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite these efforts, he did not receive an NFL contract. This forced him to consider other career paths.
In the fall of 2017, he worked as an assistant coach and student-teacher intern at Airport High School in West Columbia, South Carolina. Working with high school athletes kept him connected to sports while he figured out his next move.
During this period, he began thinking about professional wrestling. His uncle had connections in the wrestling business, which opened doors for him to explore this new path.
Starting Wrestling Training
In 2018, Matrick began training as a professional wrestler in Philadelphia. His uncle helped him get started, teaching him the basics of the business.
He initially performed under the ring name “Sweet Daddy Trick.” This early training gave him fundamental skills in wrestling techniques, character development, and performing in front of crowds.
The independent wrestling circuit is where most wrestlers learn their craft before joining major promotions. Matrick spent time developing his skills and building confidence in the ring.
His athletic background from football helped tremendously. The conditioning, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure all transferred to wrestling. However, wrestling required learning entirely new skills like storytelling, timing, and working with opponents.
Joining WWE
On February 24, 2021, Matrick signed a developmental contract with WWE. This was a major milestone that validated his decision to pursue wrestling. He was assigned to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
The Performance Center is where WWE trains new wrestlers and develops their skills. He spent months learning WWE’s specific style and improving his abilities before appearing on television.
His first appearance came on March 5, 2021, on SmackDown. He appeared as an unnamed “Elite Guard” for wrestler Apollo Crews, who was portraying a Nigerian royalty character. Matrick wore combat boots and military-style gear.
According to an interview on the “No-Contest Wrestling” podcast at wrestlinginc.com, this was only his second week of WWE employment. He admitted feeling completely lost and not even knowing which camera to look at.
The bodyguard role was supposed to continue, but Matrick contracted COVID-19, which ended the storyline. Looking back, he believes getting COVID was actually beneficial because it gave him more time to train at the Performance Center before being thrust into regular TV appearances.
The Trick Melo Gang Era
On September 14, 2021, Matrick made his NXT television debut under the ring name Trick Williams. He appeared as a friend and hype man for wrestler Carmelo Hayes, attacking Duke Hudson before his match.
This established him as a heel (villain character) and formed an alliance called the “Trick Melo Gang.” Williams and Hayes had instant chemistry together, and fans immediately responded to their partnership.
Trick made his in-ring debut on October 5, 2021. He teamed with Hayes in a fatal four-way tag team match for the NXT Tag Team Championship. They lost to MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee), but Trick showed he belonged in the ring.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, Trick accompanied Hayes to most matches. He served as Hayes’ hype man, getting the crowd excited and supporting his partner. However, Trick also wrestled his own matches and steadily improved his skills.
The partnership worked because both men elevated each other. Hayes was the in-ring technician, while Trick brought energy and charisma that connected with audiences. Together, they became one of NXT’s most popular acts.
Breaking Away and Singles Success
On August 1, 2023, Trick told Hayes they needed to part ways. He explained that he needed to achieve his own accomplishments instead of always being Hayes’ sidekick. They broke up the Trick Melo Gang amicably, with mutual respect.
This was a turning point in Trick’s career. He needed to prove he could succeed as a singles competitor without Hayes beside him.
On September 26, 2023, Trick defeated Axiom, Dragon Lee, and Tyler Bate in a fatal four-way match. This victory made him the number one contender for the NXT North American Championship.
Four days later at NXT No Mercy, he defeated “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio to win his first singles championship. However, on October 3, he lost the title back to Mysterio after interference from Mysterio’s Judgment Day teammates. His reign lasted only three days, making it the shortest in the title’s history.
Despite this setback, Trick continued building momentum. On December 9, 2023, he won the Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. This earned him an NXT Championship match.
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Winning the NXT Championship
On April 23, 2024, Trick defeated Ilja Dragunov to win the NXT Championship. This was the biggest moment of his career up to that point. He had gone from being Carmelo Hayes’ sidekick to becoming the brand’s top champion in less than a year.
However, his first reign was short. At Heatwave in July 2024, he lost the championship to Ethan Page in a fatal four-way match that also included Je’Von Evans and Shawn Spears.
Trick did not stay down long. On October 1, 2024, he defeated Ethan Page to win the NXT Championship for a second time. This proved his first title win was not a fluke.
His second reign lasted until January 2, 2025, when he lost the title to Oba Femi in a triple threat match at New Year’s Evil. This match also included Eddy Thorpe.
Being a two-time NXT Champion put Trick in elite company. He became only the sixth wrestler in NXT history to win the championship twice, joining names like Finn Bálor, Adam Cole, and Drew McIntyre.
Making History with TNA
On April 27, 2025, Trick Williams made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He appeared at their Rebellion pay-per-view event and attacked Joe Hendry after Hendry successfully defended the TNA World Championship.
On May 25, 2025, at NXT Battleground, Trick defeated Joe Hendry to win the TNA World Championship. This made history as the first time a WWE-contracted wrestler won a TNA championship inside a WWE ring.
According to official WWE information, this was a significant moment that showed the growing partnership between WWE and TNA.
Trick successfully defended the title multiple times over the summer. He beat Elijah at Against All Odds on June 6 with help from A.J. Francis. He defeated Hendry and Mike Santana at Slammiversary on July 20. He retained against Moose at Emergence on August 15.
On October 12, 2025, at Bound For Glory, Trick lost the TNA World Championship to Mike Santana. His reign lasted 140 days, making him a significant champion in TNA history despite being under WWE contract.
Moving to WWE SmackDown
In late 2025, Trick finished his time in NXT and prepared for the main roster. On December 26, 2025, he appeared on SmackDown and declared himself a free agent.
On January 2, 2026, he officially announced he had signed with the SmackDown brand. This was a major promotion, moving from WWE’s developmental brand to their main television show.
The following week on January 9, he defeated Rey Fénix in his first match as a SmackDown wrestler. This strong debut showed WWE had confidence in him as a main roster performer.
On January 16, he defeated Matt Cardona to qualify for a fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match would determine the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
At Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24, 2026, Trick competed in the fatal four-way along with Sami Zayn, Damian Priest, and another competitor. He lost when Zayn pinned Priest, but just being in that match showed his rising status.
At the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, Trick entered the match at number 10. He eliminated Mr. Iguana and El Grande Americano before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes. Competing in the Royal Rumble is a milestone for any WWE wrestler.
Personal Life and Engagement
Trick Williams is engaged to fellow WWE wrestler Anriel Howard, who performs under the ring name Lash Legend. The couple met at the WWE Performance Center around 2021 when they were both starting their training.
According to interviews, they were friends for the first couple of years. They got to know each other through training and eventually realized they had similar interests and backgrounds. They started dating after deciding to spend time together outside of work.
Their relationship became public on March 19, 2024, when they kissed on WWE NXT television. WWE briefly featured their romance in storylines, though they later focused on their individual careers.
On November 27, 2025 (Thanksgiving), Trick proposed to Lash in front of their families. The emotional moment was captured on video and shared on social media.
According to Ringside News, Lash said she had suspicions about the proposal but Trick deliberately threw her off by making it seem like it would happen at a different time.
Lash mentioned that she usually plans their trips, but when Trick insisted on planning a December getaway himself, she suspected something was coming. However, he surprised her by proposing during their Thanksgiving family dinner instead.
The couple is now planning their wedding while both pursue their WWE careers. Lash was recently promoted to SmackDown, meaning they now work on the same brand.
Character and Personality
What makes Trick Williams successful is his natural charisma. He connects with audiences through genuine enthusiasm and energy. His “Whoop That Trick” catchphrase became popular because fans enjoy chanting it.
He is not the biggest or most technically skilled wrestler, but he makes up for it with personality. Wrestling is about entertaining people, and Trick understands this better than many competitors.
His partnership with Carmelo Hayes taught him important lessons about working with others and building chemistry. Even after they split, the lessons from that partnership helped his singles career.
Trick is also adaptable. He started as a heel (villain) but transitioned to being a face (hero) when audiences started cheering for him naturally. Good wrestlers adjust to what fans want rather than fighting against it.
Net Worth and Income
Trick Williams’ estimated net worth is between $1 million and $2 million as of early 2026. These figures are estimates based on his WWE contracts, merchandise sales, and other income sources.
WWE NXT wrestlers have a base salary of approximately $150,000 per year according to industry reports. As a former NXT Champion who has moved to SmackDown, Trick likely earns more than the base salary now.
SmackDown wrestlers earn higher salaries than NXT performers. While exact figures are not public, estimates suggest main roster performers earn between $250,000 and $500,000 annually depending on their position on the card.
He also earns money from merchandise sales. WWE sells Trick Williams t-shirts, hats, and other items. Wrestlers typically receive a percentage of merchandise revenue.
Endorsement deals add to his income. He has partnerships with brands like WWE Shop, Chalk Line Apparel, and Tekken according to various sources. These deals provide additional revenue beyond his wrestling salary.
He has also appeared in video games. Trick Williams is a playable character in WWE 2K23, WWE 2K24, and WWE 2K25. Wrestlers receive compensation for their likeness being used in video games.
Additionally, he had a guest role in the television series “All American,” appearing in the season seven finale as a character named Eddie Blair. Acting opportunities like this provide extra income and exposure beyond wrestling.
It is important to remember that net worth estimates for wrestlers are not exact. They are calculated based on publicly known income sources and industry standards. The actual amount could be higher or lower depending on investments, expenses, and private business deals.
Physical Appearance and Training
Trick Williams stands approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 220 pounds. His height and athletic build make him look credible as a professional wrestler.
He maintains excellent physical conditioning through regular training. Professional wrestlers work out daily to stay in shape for their demanding schedules.
His football background gave him a foundation of strength and conditioning. Wrestling requires different types of training, including flexibility work and learning how to take bumps safely, but his athletic base helped him adapt quickly.
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