Nikki Bella has addressed a viral moment from Monday Night Raw where she fired back at fans for chanting about her ex-fiancé, John Cena, during her match. On the December 29 episode of Raw, Bella competed in a high-stakes Triple Threat match for the Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez and the champion, Stephanie Vaquer. During a pivotal moment in the bout, Bella locked in her submission maneuver, the “Fearless Lock,” on Rodriguez.
The visual similarity of the move to John Cena’s signature STF prompted the live crowd to break out into “Thank You Cena!” chants. Bella, never one to back down from a crowd, immediately broke character to yell, “No! Thank me!” The interaction quickly made rounds on social media, sparking debates about the move’s origins.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Bella clarified the history of her submission, distancing it from Cena’s repertoire. She revealed that the move was actually taught to her by a former MMA fighter and current WWE superstar.
“I think people forgot, not everyone, but I used to do the Fearless Lock,” Bella said. “Yes, it was during a period of time when John [Cena] and I were together, but the Fearless Lock is different from his submission, it really is. He lays on top of people and grabbing the front face. The Fearless Lock is a legit submission Shayna [Baszler] gave me.”
Bella explained that the move was developed during her recovery from a career-threatening neck injury. During her rehabilitation at the WWE Performance Center, she wanted to add a legitimate submission to her arsenal to protect her body upon her return.
“We named it the Fearless Lock because of Fearless Nikki, and coming back from my broken neck, I was training a lot with Nattie [Natalya], Shayna, and Bayley at the PC,” Bella explained. “I went to an MMA place with Shayna, and she was teaching me legitimate moves. I said, ‘I want to come back from this broken neck with a submission.’ She showed me this, and she’s like, ‘It’s not at all what John’s is.’”
Bella went on to detail the technical differences that fans might miss at first glance. She noted that while the entry into the move might look similar, the execution is distinct.
“I get the step in makes people think that, but I’m on the side, and how I lock in, you see it. You’re yanking the person back,” Bella said. “Raquel [Rodriguez] was the first person I did it on over six feet tall, and it looks a lot different. It felt different.”
Regarding her snapping back at the crowd, Bella admitted she hadn’t anticipated the chant but enjoyed the chance to tap into her previous persona. “I wasn’t expecting anything with John, so when they started chanting, ‘Thank you Cena,’ the old Nikki came alive, ‘Thank me!’ I loved it.”
Despite her spirited performance, Bella was unable to capture the Women’s World Championship, as Stephanie Vaquer retained her title. Bella will now look to regroup asthe new year is here.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Nikki & Brie Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
