Nikki Bella Responds to “Thank You Cena” Chants With Classic Attitude

Nikki Bella didn’t just step back into the ring—she stormed into it with a purpose. During WWE’s return to Orlando, Nikki competed in a triple threat title match and brought out her signature attitude… and an old submission move that had fans chanting for someone else.

The WWE Hall of Famer broke down the chaos leading up to her match on The Nikki & Brie Show, explaining how things got real behind the scenes.

“We go live at 8:00 p.m. I’m in the makeup chair at 7:00 p.m.… I’m getting my hair and makeup done at the same time. Then I’m also having Sarroth literally sewing and taping in my bra top so it doesn’t break off,” Nikki explained. “Our other seamstress lady is putting elastic on my leggings and pulling my legs up on me as I’m talking with Nattie about the match.”

But the biggest moment came mid-match when she applied her old submission finisher, the Fearless Lock. That’s when the crowd took things in a direction Nikki didn’t expect.

“So when they start chanting ‘Thank you, Cena’—it’s just heel Nikki came alive, and I was like, ‘Thank me!’”

Fans assumed she was using John Cena’s STF, but Nikki set the record straight. She gave credit to Shayna Baszler for teaching her the hold during her recovery from neck surgery.

“People forgot—not everyone, but some—that I used to do the Fearless Lock. And yes, it was during a period of time when John and I were together, but the Fearless Lock is different from his submission. It really is.”

“I literally went to an MMA place with her and she was teaching me legitimate moves. And I just was like, ‘I really want to come back from this broken neck with a submission.’ So she showed me this… it’s not at all what John’s is.”

Wrestling someone Raquel Rodriguez’s size made it even more intense. Despite losing the match, Nikki says the experience gave her a massive adrenaline rush and a reminder of why she still loves performing.

“Raquel was the first person I’ve done it on over six feet tall… I had to put my body on her and to the side to really lock it in. It was crazy doing it to someone so long.”

“I was on such a high with the energy… I feel like I’m out there and I feel like I’m their age. I move with them. I just loved it.”

Nikki Bella isn’t staging a comeback—she never really left. Despite being a Hall of Famer and a veteran in the game, she’s still out there every week throwing down with the best of them. From taking bumps to locking in submissions on six-foot-tall opponents, Nikki’s proving she can still go—and she’s not interested in being anyone’s nostalgia act.

What did you think of the reaction Nikki Bella got from the crowd? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear it all.

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