Monday night on a very busy Raw, The Bella Twins not-so-shockingly turned heel on Ronda Rousey moments after another win. The trio had been teaming together for weeks, including a victory at WWE Super Show-Down where Ronda Rousey won with an impressive double armbar.
Nikki and Brie Bella turned heel on Ronda Rousey Monday on Raw.Credit: WWE.com
Rousey had been advertised to defend the Raw Women's Championship against a mystery opponent at WWE Evolution, and with these recent developments, widely circulated rumors of Nikki Bella being that opponent have been confirmed.
WWE has done a nice job subtly building tension between Rousey and the Bellas, or at least they've done as nice a job as a predominately male writing staff can do with a storyline featuring passive-aggressiveness among women.
The seeds were planted when The Bella Twins patronizingly offered career advice to Ronda Rousey on the Sept. 3 broadcast on Raw. Tensions continued when Rousey and Nikki Bella got into a brief argument over who would start their match at WWE Super Show-Down, before the Bellas eschewed tagging in Rousey for much of the match.
With Rousey piling up victories over a slew of opponents before moving on—her recent match against Alexa Bliss at WWE Hell in a Cell marked the first one-on-one rematch of her young career—a heel Nikki Bella could be the type of foil and legitimate rival necessary to elevate Rousey's already successful WWE career.
Rivals are essential in WWE's once-infallible star-making process. During the Attitude Era, Steve Austin needed The Rock and Vince McMahon to reach the meteoric heights that propelled WWE to its most successful boom period. Hulk Hogan needed the likes of Randy Savage and Roddy Piper to do the same during WWE's golden age of the 80s. And while pro wrestling may never return to its previous levels of mainstream popularity, Ronda Rousey is its biggest full-time star, and the only way she'll get bigger is with a convincing enemy.
Enter Nikki Bella.
WWE has not been shy about discussing some (unfair) fan sentiments of the Bella Twins being everything that was wrong with women's wrestling during the much-maligned Divas era. While these sentiments are filled with holes, especially as the Bella Twins continue to persist as top stars through the current women's evolution, Nikki Bella could become a tremendous heel by leaning into them and embracing her role as a pioneering Diva.
Juxtaposed against a world-class-fighter-turned-gracious-professional-wrestler in Ronda Rousey, that dynamic will jump off the screen.
Nikki Bella turned heel and will take on Ronda Rousey at WWE Evolution.Credit: WWE.com
Unlike past foes, Nikki and Brie Bella received the unprecedented honor of laying out Ronda Rousey. This wasn't even afforded to the Riott Squad during a three-on-one attack.
WWE clearly wants fans to invest in Nikki Bella as a legitimate challenger to Rousey's undefeated streak. Nikki Bella's track record as a tenured top star who has outlasted both past and present peers will only help that cause. The Bella Twins are at their best as heels, while Rousey has shined as a sweet-and-sour babyface.
And with Rousey's veil of invincibility challenged for the first time her current feud with Nikki Bella should build to a heated match and, hopefully, an even more heated rivalry.
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