WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella recently admitted that there was a point where she considered becoming a part of the AEW roster.
The former Diva’s Champion last competed in WWE as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Entering at number 24, Bella was eventually eliminated by twin sister Brie. The Bella Twins were originally advertised to appear on the WWE Raw 30th anniversary special in January 2023 but did not appear. A couple of days later, Nikki Bella explained why they were not at the anniversary show.
Choosing not to renew their Legends’ deal with the company later that year, The Bella Twins let their contracts expire and have since been known as Nikki and Brie Garcia. Despite the fact that Nikki Garcia has not wrestled in over 2 years, it doesn’t necessarily mean that she has retired from in-ring action altogether.
Speaking on the Nikki and Brie Show, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed that when she heard Mercedes Mone’s debut promo at the Big Business special back in March there was some consideration to give Tony Khan a call but ultimately couldn’t as it would be a lot of time away from her family:
“Since we’ve been lifting so much, we always say, we always start to get that wrestling mindset, ‘We’re going to go back and do this story and cut this promo.’ You get it, but how serious I got where I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do maybe a year at AEW and I can do it every week.’ When I saw Mercedes [Mercedes Mone] debut and cut her promo, that line stuck with me, ‘Here, we’re going to make the evolution worldwide.’ I was like, ‘They do. It goes into many leagues, is what she means, it doesn’t have to be at one place. It can be at all these places where all these women are wrestling at.
I go, ‘Brie, I think I can do it for a year. I can do it here to here and go every week.’ Then, I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like, ‘This is it. I’m going to call Tony Khan. I’m your girl. I will commit.’ Then, I was like, ‘I can’t do that to my son right now. He needs me.
“Everyone thinks it’s TV one day a week. You have travel, you have preparation. I have to go to San Jose and get in the ring every day. There is a lot that goes into it and that takes all the time away from my son. He needs me the most right now.”
Nikki Bella Was Yelled At In WWE For Bizarre Reason
Debuting for the company in 2008, The Bellas competed at a time when the women’s division was not taken as seriously as it is today and with many matches cut for time or cut from shows entirely. Despite the hindrances, The Bellas became stars outside of the company as they starred in the reality TV show Total Divas and the spinoff show Total Bellas. Despite the success, some in the company took issue with this. During an interview after her exit, Nikki Bella revealed the strange reason she was yelled at while in WWE.
In a follow-up interview, Tony Khan has responded to Nikki Bella’s comments.
Aware of Nikki Bella’s interest, Toni Storm has also responded.
H/t to Fightful.