In 2016, Nikki Bella made a surprise return to WWE at SummerSlam, much to the shock of both fans and wrestlers alike. Bella, who had been recovering from neck surgery, wasn’t expected to compete.
Kept Secret from Wrestlers
On their podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Show,” Bella revealed the shocking details of her return. Teaming with Natalya and Alexa Bliss, Bella faced Naomi, Becky Lynch, and Carmella. However, her fellow competitors only found out about her participation two matches beforehand!
“It was nerve-wracking,” Bella admitted. “They literally didn’t want them [the other wrestlers] to know I was there until just two matches before.”
Carmella, who was on the opposing team, confirmed Bella’s story. “I had to go and take your finisher in the garage at Barclays [Center],” Carmella said. They explained the situation and expected Carmella to be ready to take Bella’s signature move without any prior practice together.
Despite the last-minute scramble, Bella went through with the match. “I hadn’t even had a practice match,” she said. However, she ultimately decided it was worth it. “We all know why I got put in that position, which I was so grateful for,” Bella concluded.
