Nikki and Brie Bella returned to SmackDown on Friday night in Phoenix and announced they are coming for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, positioning themselves as the next challengers heading into WrestleMania 42.
The Bellas interrupted the tag title match between Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss and champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend with a message for both teams.
“It feels good to be back on SmackDown in our hometown,” Brie said.
Nikki addressed Flair and Bliss directly. “As much as we would love to wish you luck tonight, that is not why we are here,” she said.
Brie followed up: “No matter who wins tonight, we came for gold and we are next in line for the tag titles.”
Nikki said they would be watching from ringside to scout their competition.
The Match
The tag title match between Flair and Bliss and the Irresistible Forces broke down into chaos in the closing moments. Nia Jax nearly collided with the Bellas at ringside while brawling with Flair on the outside. Flair hit a thrust kick that accidentally caught Nikki Bella. Jax then clotheslined Flair and knocked Brie down as well.
Back in the ring, Flair hit Natural Selection on Jax and Alexa Bliss went up for Twisted Bliss, but the match fell apart when Brie attacked Jax, causing a disqualification. The Irresistible Forces retained the titles.
After the match, Brie punched Jax, but Lash Legend leveled Brie with a clothesline. Jax punched and headbutted Nikki, and Lash hit a forearm on Nikki, leaving both Bellas laid out as the segment ended. Based on the finish, it looks like they are setting up for a multi-team match.
Nikki and Brie Bella are two-time WWE Divas Champions individually and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020. Nikki held the Divas Championship for 301 days, the longest reign in the title’s history at the time. The twins have not competed as a regular tag team in WWE in several years, though they have made sporadic appearances, including at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble.
Their return comes as WWE continues to build its women’s tag division. Jax and Legend won the Women’s Tag Team Championships recently, with Flair and Bliss among the teams pursuing the titles.
WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
