Wade Barrett has publicly refuted claims made by Nikki Bella that he intentionally avoided her backstage at WWE Raw. The commentator stated on social media that her accusation is “simply not true,” directly addressing comments Bella made on her podcast.
The issue stems from an alleged backstage encounter following Clash in Paris. On The Nikki & Brie Show, Bella asserted that Barrett, who she says normally greets her, actively avoided making eye contact in a hallway.
Bella’s perception was shaped by Barrett’s commentary during her match against Becky Lynch at the Paris event. Barrett remarked that Nikki was “desperate to prove she still has it against this new generation that have changed the game.”
On her show, Bella acknowledged the requirements of being a “heel commentator” but contrasted Barrett’s approach with that of Michael Cole. She praised Cole for his ability to weave real-life narratives into his commentary.
“I would like to have a conversation with Wade Barrett,” Bella said. “He avoided me on Monday, which was shocking… he always comes up and says hi to me. He tried to avoid making eye contact with me in the hallway.”
In his social media response, Barrett expressed surprise at her public statement. He insisted he was open to discussing the matter with the WWE Hall of Famer directly.
“I had no idea Nicole felt this way, and I’m happy to have this ‘conversation’ any time she likes,” Barrett wrote. “I wish she’d brought it up when we said hello to each other at RAW, rather than via her podcast. I don’t understand the avoiding claim at all, simply not true.”