Nikki Bella Shocks Fans with Surprise Comeback at 2025 Royal Rumble
Nikki Bella made a shocking return to WWE during the 2025 women’s Royal Rumble match.
At the age of 41, Bella was the 30th and final entrant in the over-the-top-rope battle royal held at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, February 1.
She made her entrance in her trademark outfit, complete with a backwards red hat. Once inside the ring, Nikki collaborated with her fellow competitors to try and eliminate Nia Jax, but their efforts were in vain—Jax remarkably tossed out nine wrestlers simultaneously.
Nia ultimately ousted Nikki, paving the way for Charlotte Flair to snag the title of 2025 Royal Rumble champion, earning her a spot at this year’s Wrestlemania in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This match marked Bella’s first in-ring performance since she participated as a surprise entrant in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match. Both she and her twin sister, Brie, officially stepped back from full-time wrestling duties in 2019.
However, Nikki recently expressed to Us Weekly her eagerness to return to the ring after making an appearance at WWE Raw’s Netflix debut on January 6.
Nikki Garcia believed she had finally discovered her fairytale ending. After ending her engagement to fellow WWE superstar John Cena in early 2019, Garcia rekindled her romance with Artem Chigvintsev, her partner from Season 25 of Dancing With the Stars, leading to a whirlwind love affair that culminated in their engagement by November and soon thereafter welcoming their […]
“I’ve missed it for several years,” Nikki shared in an interview published on Wednesday, January 29. “I long to be Nikki Bella again. I miss being part of that family. I definitely miss the thrill of being in the ring. Experiencing the energy of the crowd and seeing the Bella Army, either live or online, it stirs so many feelings.”
Nikki expressed, “Returning to WWE feels like coming home for me. I began my journey there at 22 and spent most of my life in that environment. The camaraderie among the women is outstanding, and the energy is simply incredible.”
During her recent ringside appearance at the Netflix event, Nikki reflected on the boundaries she and Brie broke throughout their careers.
“I thought to myself, ‘This is why we worked hard in this industry,’” Nikki marveled. “Returning feels like a blessing. I believe I still have what it takes, so we shall see.”
Nikki hinted that she might encourage her sister to make a return to the ring soon as well.
“After my return, I told Brie, ‘You would love it here,’” Nikki mentioned. “Although she’s currently focused on motherhood, I sense she still has that competitive spark within her. It might not take too much convincing for her to come back with me.”
Brie and her husband, Bryan Danielson, a former WWE star now with All Elite Wrestling, have two children: daughter Birdie, 7, and son Buddy, 4.
Nikki shares a son, Matteo, 4, with her ex-husband, Artem Chigvintsev.
While she aims to be a “great mom,” Nikki is eager to demonstrate to her son that women can excel in diverse roles.
“I want to showcase the greatness that women can achieve, whether it’s excelling in the ring, leading in a boardroom, or succeeding in academics,” she stated.
