Nikki Bella didn’t think her feud with Paige was going to end with a three-minute match on SmackDown. She thought they were building toward a premium live event instead, and she’s now explaining why she never let the change derail the story.
Speaking on The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki admitted she and Paige both believed the rivalry was heading to a PLE. She said she came into the program fully prepared for that before WWE ultimately took the story in another direction.
“So we, it was like, even though, you know, we thought we were gonna have this, like, PLE match and I came in, like, super prepped for that and, you know, it turned in… and I love storytelling. So, like, let’s continue this.”
Instead of dwelling on what didn’t happen, Nikki immediately started thinking about what she could still do with the feud. In her mind, if the match wasn’t happening on a PLE, the story simply needed another chapter. Brie Bella picked up on that point right away. She suggested that maybe the reason everyone kept talking about the feud was because fans walked away wanting more instead of feeling like they had already gotten the payoff.
“And it was, maybe that’s why people are talking ’cause they want more.”
Nikki laughed because that was exactly the point she was trying to make. She said she’s always believed the best wrestling stories leave fans asking what’s next rather than giving them everything in one night.
“No, but that’s what I knew. You didn’t let me finish. Yeah, that’s what I was saying is that’s, I’m all about the story. So, like, take it away and then you put in that and it’s great heat, right? And it gets people talking and now they’re like, ‘When’s this gonna happen? What’s next?’ I love that stuff.”
The conversation came back to the subject later in the episode while Nikki was talking about handling situations that don’t go according to plan. She explained that the same mindset she uses in wrestling is the one she tries to use in everyday life whenever things don’t unfold the way she imagined.
“So this past week and, like, Friday and, you know, and it kind of goes with what you said a little bit, but meaning, like, when certain situations come into your life and let’s say that maybe it’s not exactly how you saw what was gonna happen. So if it’s a presentation or a pitch you showed up to give, or it was a party you were gonna throw, I’m just trying to think of different backgrounds. Yeah. Like, whatever it is you do in life and then this is what you think is gonna happen, and it doesn’t quite happen.”
Nikki said those moments force her to change the way she thinks instead of focusing on what she lost. Rather than shutting down, she tries to figure out how to make the new opportunity just as meaningful as the one she originally expected.
“I always think of instead of shutting down and being, I don’t wanna say go into victim mode, but being like, ‘Oh, like, of course me,’ or, ‘This isn’t gonna work now.’ And just because the situation has changed, it’s to put the mindset in, like, ‘How can I make this now the best?’”
Only after laying out that philosophy did Nikki bring it back to her program with Paige. She admitted the feud was the perfect example because she had to practice exactly what she was preaching once the PLE match she expected was no longer on the table.
“So I thought I was gonna have this big PLE match, and now I’m given this, and how am I gonna make it the best? How am I gonna make it talked about? You know, I always think about Steve Keirn when he used to tell us, like, ‘Who cares if you win or lose? It’s how you lose. It’s how you win. But if you’re gonna lose all the time, well, how are you gonna lose so it’s always talked about?’ Remember, he always teaches that.”
Nikki may not have gotten the match she originally expected, but she doesn’t sound disappointed by it anymore. If anything, she sounds convinced the story with Paige is still building toward something bigger.
Do you think Nikki Bella and Paige should still get the PLE match Nikki Bella originally expected? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
