During a video announcement on the July 7 episode of WWE RAW, Nikki Bella revealed her new direction for this Sunday’s Evolution premium live event. The Hall of Famer confirmed she will enter the event’s battle royal, with the winner receiving a championship match at Clash in Paris on August 31.
In the video, Bella stated her desire for one more significant match, hoping for her son to be able to watch her compete. Securing the title opportunity in Paris would fulfill that goal. Her entry into the battle royal officially places her on the card, joining other confirmed participants like Stephanie Vaquer and Ivy Nile.
This announcement marks a significant pivot from the original creative plans. Bella returned to WWE television on the June 9 edition of RAW, initiating a feud with Liv Morgan. The storyline was building towards a major match at Evolution, but those plans were derailed when Morgan suffered a legitimate separated shoulder during a match on June 23, forcing her removal from the event. The original match was expected to be either a singles contest or a tag team encounter pitting The Bella Twins against Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Despite the abrupt change, WWE’s intention to feature Nikki Bella prominently at Evolution remained firm, a fact supported by her placement on promotional materials for the show.
Her participation carries historical weight, as Bella main-evented the inaugural Evolution in 2018, where she challenged Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women’s Championship. Reports from earlier in the year indicated Bella has been training since January with Natalya and Tyson Kidd, preparing for a more substantial in-ring run.