Nikki Bella says she was the most searched performer coming out of last week’s SmackDown, and that the crowd left no doubt about what it wants from her run on the brand.
Bella discussed the response on the latest episode of The Nikki and Brie Show, after a segment in which she answered comments Chelsea Green had made about her on Watch What Happens Live the night before.
“Chelsea was on Watch What Happens Live, and I got brought up when she was on the show. So when I got to do that Friday night, I just wanted to incorporate what she said about me,” Bella said. “I loved it, because some people on Twitter got it, some didn’t, of course. But some people were like, ‘Oh s***, she just literally threw back exactly what she said about Nikki the night before.'”
The live response is what stuck with her.
“But that Corpus Christi crowd was so amazing. They really want me to have the title, Brie,” Bella said. “The fans cheered super loud. They were excited about it, because you know about live reactions. That’s what we go by.”
Bella said the search numbers from the segment surprised even her.
“I was like the most searched person. It’s always good and bad, of course. But even over the guys, I was number one from Friday Night SmackDown,” Bella said.
She said she does not read the responses.
“I don’t even look, because I don’t put that in my energy field,” Bella said. “I’m sure there was a ton of like, oh my gosh, don’t tell me, 2026 Nikki Bella is going for the title. That’s like always. It’s like, actually, you’re talking about it, so yeah, I am. You’re welcome.”
Her read is that the criticism is largely performative.
“You know how they exaggerate their feelings, because they feel like they get five stars if they bash me,” Bella said. “A girl did a video about it, and I loved it, just about the forced hate against me, which we always talk about. But I don’t care. Keep talking.”
When Brie Bella told listeners to keep tuning in to SmackDown, Nikki added her own request.
“Keep talking about me, because I’m loving these numbers and it helps,” Bella said.
Bella also pointed to the Bella Army as a factor, saying she had seen it described online as the biggest female fanbase in wrestling worldwide, though she could not say where the claim originated.
The title Bella is chasing is held by Green, who beat Nia Jax on the September 11 SmackDown in Mexico City for her first defense, on the same night WWE removed the interim designation from the championship. The two have history going back to Bella’s return, including a singles match on Raw in July that Bella won, and Green has spoken publicly about enjoying the rivalry.
Bella has also been paired with Jax in a series of comedy segments and social media videos, and she said the two are having a good time with it.
“I had so much fun with Nia. We traveled together and had a lot of fun with her,” Bella said. “We’re like, we’re just gonna start to do Total Divas, or Total Divas era Bellas, like you and me fights. She goes, we’re just gonna start to reenact them every week.”
Bella said more is coming, but would not give details.
“We already have a lot of fun, but I’m not gonna tell you what we have kind of planned for the next one,” Bella said. “Nia is just so funny, and she’s so good at it.”
Brie Bella, who was played by Jax in one of the videos, said she did not recognize the impression at first.
“It was funny because when I first heard it, I’m like, whose voice is that? And then I was like, oh my gosh, is that me?” Brie said.
Nikki also praised Lil Yachty, who appears in one of the videos, saying he nailed his part in a single take.
The sisters joked about starting a petition to Triple H to make Nikki champion, before agreeing there is only one way it actually happens.
“But also, I am working really hard,” Nikki said.
