Nikki Bella is looking to evolve her “Fearless Nikki” persona during her current full-time run with WWE. The Hall of Famer stated that while her original plan was to keep the character unchanged for nostalgic purposes, being back in the environment has sparked a desire for a change.
On her The Nikki & Brie Show podcast, she explained her initial mindset was to present the legend as-is, but that has now shifted. “I wanted to keep Fearless Nikki as Fearless Nikki because to me, my comeback was more about being nostalgia and ‘Okay, here’s this Hall of Famer and this legend, so let’s just keep her as is.’… but now being in it, I’m actually wanting to kind of change her a little bit.”
Bella’s goal is to challenge herself creatively, asking, “Okay, how far can I push myself beyond my comfort zone and how can I hang in this era?” (h/t Wrestling News)
This desire for evolution comes as Bella has confirmed she will be at the September 8 episode of Monday Night Raw in Milwaukee. The announcement, made via her Twitter account, places her in the same building as the recently returned AJ Lee, immediately fueling speculation of a confrontation between the former rivals.
The timing is significant, as Lee just made her own return on the September 5 edition of SmackDown. That segment saw Lee attack Becky Lynch and leave with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship after CM Punk, having been slapped by Lynch, said he knew someone who would hit a woman.
Just days ago, Bella herself added to the speculation about a renewed program with Lee. When asked by a fan on social media about a potential rematch, she responded, “That would be so fun! We had a great and magical run! Loving 2025 so much!!! Goodness imagine if Paige and Brie showed up!”
Bella’s appearance on Raw will be her first since a loss to Becky Lynch at Clash in Paris. With the Wrestlepalooza premium live event on the horizon, her planned character shift and potential crossover with AJ Lee create a new focal point in the women’s division.