Felix Upton on October 20, 2023
Nikki Bella and Brie Bella left WWE after their contracts expired. They are now known as the Garcia Twins, as they left the names that WWE owned behind them. It turns out that WWE wanted to make sure of that.
The Garcia Twins actually received a legal letter from WWE regarding their name change prior to their departure. In March 2023, Nikki and Brie Garcia, previously known as The Bella Twins, announced their exit from WWE after a lengthy tenure with the company. Following their departure, the former WWE stars adopted the monikers The Garcia Twins or Nikki and Brie Garcia.
While speaking to Amanda Hirsch on Not Skinny But Not Fat, Nikki Bella went on to discuss departing from WWE, and everything around that situation.
“I think it’s different for men than women. There was never even a conversation.”
“I think a lot of us, we thought, ‘Oh, maybe there will be a conversation because we have such a huge brand, and we were actually making WWE a lot of money.”
“So we actually thought there was gonna be a conversation of, ‘Okay, you guys aren’t re-signing. Let’s talk about the name. Maybe when you do future projects, we take a percentage, you keep the name.’”
“I’ll be honest, I got a lawyer letter four hours before my contact was ending. They were seizing it all.”
Nikki Garcia went on to explain why that letter upset her a bit. After all, she used that name for a very long time, and now she has to build something else.
“I keep that letter in my office so I can always see it and just know that, as I enter this new chapter, it’s like I get to see what wasn’t even talked about [with] something I built for 20 years, but I know that I have the power as a woman to build something else for the next 20 years.”
“It was upsetting because we were attached, but also I get a business, like, ‘Hey, this is our platform.’”
“I get it, I’m very understanding in that way. That is their IP. But we would have continued to have built that if there was a talk,”
Nikki and Brie achieved considerable success in WWE, collectively securing the Divas Championship three times and earning induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. During an interview with Amanda Hirsch on Not Skinny But Not Fat, The Garcia Twins were asked whether they sought advice from The Rock or John Cena as they prepared for their transition away from WWE.
WWE Superstars have had to reinvent themselves after departing from the company time and time again. The Garcia Twins won’t be the last who are forced to do this. It’s just unfortunate whenever this takes place with one who has spent so much time establishing that personal brand.
What’s your take on the Bella Twins changing their names? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
October 20, 2023 5:59 pm
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