What changed
2026-08-26 04:15 UTC → 2026-09-11 13:47 UTC ·
added
removed
Paige WWE return and storyline developments Nikki Bella rivalry intensifies
Following a three-year stint with AEW, Paige returned to WWE at WrestleMania 42 as a substitute for Nikki Bella. Teaming with Brie Bella, The rivalry between Paige won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, a title the duo held for 91 days before losing it on the July 18 episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Subsequent storylines saw a shift in Paige’s relationship with her former partner. After losing at SummerSlam, and Nikki Bella turned on Paige with a brutal attack. This tension escalated when Paige was unexpectedly removed from a scheduled SmackDown segment intended to address Nikki Bella. Instead of a live appearance, WWE aired a social media vignette that Nikki Bella used to mock Paige. In response to her removal, Paige posted a cryptic message on social media stating, “I got a lot to say.” Following the August 14 episode of SmackDown, where the planned segment was replaced by a digital exclusive released on YouTube and social media, Paige criticized the decision on X. She suggested that women’s segments are frequently cut and directed into personal remarks toward Nikki Bella, stating she would see her in person the territory following week. Nikki Bella has continued to engage in the social media exchange, sarcastically asking if the segment had aired during a commercial break. Paige responded by accusing Nikki of hypocrisy, stating, “You’d think you’d want women to have segments instead of being cut.” On the August 28 episode of SmackDown in Ottawa, Canada, the rivalry turned physical again. Canada. After Jacy Jayne defeated Paige in a singles match for the Women’s United States Championship, Nikki Bella made a physical appearance by attacking Paige before exiting the arena. During the confrontation, attacked Paige, during which an incident occurred where Paige appeared to pull down Nikki Bella’s clothing, though clothing; it remains unclear if the moment this was scripted or accidental. The feud intensified when Paige made personal remarks regarding Bella’s past relationship with John Cena, alleging that Bella built her career on his reputation rather than her own merit. Addressing the controversy on ‘The Nikki & Brie Show’, Bella stated that the storyline direction was influenced by live crowd reactions in Canada, where fans chanted Cena’s name. While acknowledging that audience reactions to the personal references are divided, Bella noted she embraces the controversy if it entertains the viewers. Bella is currently preparing for her first singles match since recovering from an ankle injury. She is scheduled to face Paige in Mexico City, marking the Bella family’s return to the city for a WWE televised event after 15 years.