Felix Upton on January 1, 2026
Nikki Bella didn’t just return to the ring in 2025 — she rediscovered herself along the way.
Now going by her real name, Nikki Garcia, the WWE Hall of Famer made her in-ring comeback at the 2025 Royal Rumble, entering the Women’s Rumble match for her first bout since 2018. While some thought it would be a one-off appearance, Nikki proved them wrong. She stuck around and even chased the WWE Women’s World Title multiple times throughout the year, stepping up as a surprise veteran presence across weekly TV.
But according to Nikki, her comeback wasn’t just about titles or screen time — it marked the beginning of a deeper personal transformation. During her New Year’s Eve podcast episode with Brie Garcia and Tyson Ritter, Nikki looked back on the past twelve months and described how 2025 helped her reclaim something she’d been missing: joy.
“When you look at me walking out of the Royal Rumble and then you look at the girl who walked out for her triple threat title match last night, I am a night and day difference. Like this year was so amazing to me. It was such a growing year. It was me entering just a brand new era and something that I’ve been yearning and craving. Like people say Nikki got her groove back, but like I got my groove back. I got happiness back. I found more out of who I am and I’m comfortable with that and just all—I got my confidence back and I got everything back and then some. And it’s just—I keep looking at those—it doesn’t even look like the same girl. And you feel the energy off that girl when you’re looking at both. And now being who I am and how comfortable and all of the things, I’m just fired up to go into this new year. I just feel like everything’s unexpected and I love it.”
The WWE Universe saw her show up and throw down in the ring, but what fans didn’t see was everything happening behind the scenes — including Nikki rebuilding her mindset, embracing solitude while traveling, and reconnecting with her own identity as both a performer and a mother.
Her run in 2025 didn’t end with a title, but Nikki walked away with something even more valuable: purpose, peace, and the fire to keep going.
Did her return inspire you, or were you hoping to see her take a different path? Drop your thoughts in the comments — we want to hear from the Bella Army and beyond
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
January 1, 2026 2:58 pm
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