As soon as the Bella Twins announced their respective retirements, speculation almost immediately turned to when they might return to the ring.
The duo have long teased a potential WWE return, and speaking on a recent episode of their ‘The Bellas Podcast‘, Nikki and Brie have discussed the logistics of a comeback.
“I really want to do a WWE return with Brie and go after the tag titles. That’s one thing I really want to do before I hang up the Nikes for good. I want to do one last run. The desire and passion I used to have, all put into that run. When I went back and had the run with Ronda [Rousey], it was a difficult time with the break up and being back there so quick,” said Nikki.
Brie explained that she found the pairs last run difficult due to having a very young child at the time.
“It was hard for me and I wasn’t much help because I was going through separation anxiety with Birdie and we were so busy. We couldn’t even keep up with time.”
Expanding further on a potential timeline for a comeback, Nikki who is 37, had a her first child, Matteo, in July 2020. discussed wanting to have a second child before she is 40.
“I want to go back and have my last run be everything I want it to be and you want it to be. So that means I get pregnant in 2023? I don’t want to be pregnant at 40. So, I’m having a tough time,”
Brie followed up by raising the subject of the Nikki’s history of neck injuries. Adding that the condition of her neck will ultimately be the deciding factor over whether a return for the Bella Twins is possible or not. Nikki responded by revealing that despite talking up another run, she isn’t actually cleared to wrestle, but is training and meeting with doctors to try and make it possible.
“I guess I have been talking about this run as if I’m cleared, which I’m not cleared to wrestle. I saw a doctor last week who is starting to help me with neck strengthening exercises. I’m working on doing everything I can to increase bone growth with bone fusion and helping herniation. Since I haven’t done any hardcore impact since my match with Ronda, hopefully the herniation that happened above my bone fusion has gotten better. I hope that somehow, all these things that I’m doing, if I want to do this run, I have to get MRIs and scans and they have to discuss things. They will see this incredible growth and say, ‘You’re strong, here are your limits, but this is what you can do.’ I need to start that a year out. We’ll see what a year does, how good the bone grows, how strong my neck can get. Say prayers for me.”
The Bella Twins were set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020, but the ceremony was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has been announced that the class of 2020 will now be inducted alongside the class of 2021 on April 6th 2021.
Molly Holly has been announced as the first inductee into the 2021 class.
H/t to Fightful for the transcription.