Subhojeet Mukherjee on January 27, 2026
WWE might be pulling off another major surprise at the 2026 Royal Rumble—and this time, it could involve Nikki Bella.
On January 27, 2026, a Twitter user uploaded a clip from the MC2 section of the arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where WWE was running stage lighting and screen tests ahead of the January 31 Premium Live Event. In the footage, Nikki Bella’s entrance theme was being played during a run-through of production cues.
Nikki hasn’t been seen on WWE television since the December 29, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw, where she competed in a Triple Threat Match against Stephanie Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s World Championship. Since then, she’s remained off-screen, with no public storyline developments or appearances leading into Royal Rumble weekend.
The testing of her theme music during arena setup is a strong indication that she may be slotted for a surprise return during the Women’s Royal Rumble match. So far, 17 women have publicly declared their entry into the match—but Nikki Bella is not one of them, leading to speculation that her name is being held back for a pop-worthy reveal during the Premium Live Event.
WWE has gone to great lengths this year to keep surprises under wraps. According to a report from Fightful Select, the company is staggering travel for key talent, using private charter flights and restricted access to airstrips and hotels to maintain secrecy—especially for unannounced entrants.
“There are also plans to bring in talent on their own later in the week, including surprise names. WWE sources that we spoke to say that they actually think it will be easier to keep surprises secret this year.”
With Nikki’s entrance theme now being tested in the building and her name conspicuously absent from the declared list, all signs point toward her making a dramatic return at the Royal Rumble.
Will Nikki Bella make her long-awaited return this Saturday in Saudi Arabia—and if she does, how far will she go in the Rumble? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the comments.
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