Trick Williams' rise as a WWE superstar hit another milestone Sunday as he became the new WWE United States Champion after defeating Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Williams played wide receiver for South Carolina football under his real name, Matrick Belton, from 2014-16. After joining the program as a walk-on, Belton amassed 11 catches for 121 yards in 20 games while mainly appearing on special teams. Prior to joining the Gamecocks, Williams spent two years on scholarship at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.
In an interview with The Pivot Podcast, Williams described his time in Columbia as the first real leap of faith in his career.
“Like this is unfamiliar territory for me, you know what I mean, I'm gonna leave a scholarship and walk on to the University of South Carolina, which at the time, you know, No. 4 team in the nation,” Williams said.
The Columbia native began his professional wrestling career in February 2021 after signing with WWE on a developmental deal. Williams tested the NFL and wrestling waters prior to that, having a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pennsylvania independent wrestling scene.
In the world of pro wrestling, Williams is seen as one of the next big superstars after a long-established run on WWE’s developmental show "WWE NXT," where Williams held the NXT Championship twice, as well as the NXT North American and TNA World Championships.
Williams debuted on the main roster as a part of Friday Night SmackDown on the Jan. 2 episode this year, where fans quickly became attached to his mic skills as well as his charisma. Williams is known for his trademark white mink coat and his white platform boots, which he calls the “lemon pepper steppers.”
His entrance song, “Locked In,” has captivated crowds across the world in an homage to the 2005 film "Hustle & Flow," where fans chant in unison with the song “Whoop that Trick.” On Sunday, 58,000 fans said these words in unison as Williams made his way to the ring along with his accomplice, rapper Lil Yachty.
Williams attributed his charisma and passion to his family.
“This is how my people talk," Williams said. "This is how my pops talks. My uncles, all of them talk trash. If I don’t sound like this, it won't be natural to me."
Trick was made the No. 1 contender for the WWE United States Championship on a recent episode of SmackDown by general manager Nick Aldis, who set the match against Zayn for Sunday.
On Sunday, Williams hit his finishing move, the Trick Shot, on Zayn twice to pin him and win the championship. This accomplishment comes just four months after debuting on the main roster, showcasing his stardom by achieving an accomplishment most take years to obtain.
Williams attributed his ability to transition from football to professional wrestling to former Gamecock wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr.
“Spurrier Jr. told me this too, he said, 'Whatever you do best, make sure no one else in the room can do that better than you. Because if they can do it better than you, we don’t need you,'” Williams said.
Williams is also engaged to fellow WWE superstar Lash Legend. She also competed at Wrestlemania 42, losing her WWE Women's Tag Team Championship to Paige and Brie Bella in a eight-woman tag team match.
However, theres still a celebration left for Williams as WWE SmackDown will be live from Colonial Life Arena on May 15. As a part of the SmackDown roster, Williams will appear at the show on May 15.