Nikki Bella has addressed the crowd’s reaction during her Women’s Intercontinental Championship match against Becky Lynch at Clash in Paris. In a post on Twitter, the WWE Hall of Famer thanked the fans in attendance, regardless of whether they were cheering or booing her during the contest.
“And Paris cheers or boos you all are such an amazing crowd!! Thank you!!” she wrote.
The statement came after the live audience was audibly in favor of the champion, Becky Lynch, throughout the match, despite Lynch being portrayed as the heel in their feud and Bella as the babyface. Bella also thanked her “Bella Army” for their support and noted that despite the loss, her return to the ring “is only the beginning.”
The match, which was Bella’s first high-profile singles title opportunity in nearly a decade, ended with Lynch retaining her championship. The finish came when Lynch countered one of Bella’s moves into a pinning combination, which announcer Wade Barrett referred to as the “Lynch Pin.” Bella’s in-ring performance also generated online discussion, with some fans criticizing a missed move from the second rope and a spot where she slammed Lynch’s head on the announce table.
The post-match message from Bella suggests her current run with the company is set to continue. The close finish to the match has led to the belief that the feud between her and Lynch may not be over. Bella has also previously mentioned her desire to convince her sister, Brie Bella, to return for one final run as a team.
Lynch’s night was not over after her successful title defense. She later appeared during the main event, revealing herself as the newest member of The Vision by hitting CM Punk with a low blow. The interference allowed her husband, Seth Rollins, to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.