Nikki Bella Reflects On Her First Singles Match In Seven Years, Was Told To Think About Delaying It A Week

On the July 14th episode of WWE Raw, Nikki Bella had her first singles match since 2018, taking on Chelsea Green.

It was not only Nikki’s first singles match in seven years, it was the first time she had wrestled on back-to-back nights since 2018 as well.

Speaking on the Nikki & Brie Show with her sister Brie Bella, Nikki looked back on the match.

“The one thing is, is when you can’t help when you get the full cottonmouth. You can be so hydrated, but when that happens, which is always right in the beginning, it’s as if you didn’t have water for two weeks. Nerves and I haven’t had a (singles) match in seven years. I was so blown up inside. A lot of people were complimenting me backstage. When I was getting my butt kicked at the end, you know me, I had no more breath. My age, that was my ninth day being on the road, I hadn’t been sleeping. All the things that can go up against you. No excuses, by the way. It’s been seven years, that’s all I need to say. I couldn’t even catch my breath if I wanted to,” she said.

Asked if she thought about not doing the match or if her mindset was “screw it,” Nikki replied, “I said, ‘F yeah, let’s do it,’ for sure. My mindset has always been, if you’re getting an opportunity to have a match on Raw, you don’t deny that, you take it. I’m also in this era where I’m here to prove something to myself. When I’ve been training at the dungeon and gone to the PC, it’s training, but deep down I’m like, ‘Where am I match-wise?’ It’s different, and we don’t do live events. In the past, if you came back from injury or it’s been a long time, you go do live events and you know where you’re at match-wise so you know what to work on and your condition. Even training, we weren’t doing matches, I don’t know where I’m at. I was curious about that, even though it was live on Raw, to know where I’m at. I have to start somewhere. Can’t keep doing battle royals and Royal Rumbles. Someone said to me, ‘I think you should say no and you should have that week to build up to it at the PC or dungeon.’ I was like, ‘No, I’m going to do it.’ Now, I know where I’m at.”

After her victory, Nikki was attacked by Chelsea, Piper Niven, and Alba Fyre. Stephanie Vaquer made the save for her.

Elsewhere during the podcast, Brie commented on a potential in-ring return. You can find her full comments here. 

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