Nikki Bella isn’t planning to let WWE cutting segments get in the way of her ongoing storyline with Paige.
After Paige’s planned segment was removed from the August 14 episode of SmackDown, Nikki has already started thinking about alternative ways to keep their feud moving. If WWE television doesn’t provide enough room for the story, she’s prepared to take matters online instead.
Speaking on The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki revealed that she has been brainstorming different possibilities and suggested the rivalry could continue primarily through social media if necessary, regardless of how much television time WWE gives them.
I love how we got into our Twitter war, Paige and I. I have such great stuff to work with. When her segment got cut, I was like, ‘What did you have to say?’ It’s such a great heel thing,” Bella said.
“When they posted her promo back at me, I was like, ‘Was this during the commercial break?’ Knowing it’s an online exclusive. It was making people so mad. It’s so fun. I love it.
Brie wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about that possibility, arguing that the story belongs on SmackDown. Nikki, however, pointed toward the way fans consume wrestling through YouTube, social media and streaming platforms as evidence that a storyline doesn’t necessarily need traditional television to reach an audience.
At this point, if it turns into an online story, why not? I was brainstorming, preparing; it brought me back to a decade ago. I need to be prepared for these things that might get cut. I was like, ‘We always made the most of things.’ It’s how we fought and made us want to break barriers more.’ I was getting very creative.
Rather than treating another cut segment as a setback, she floated the possibility of using repeated cuts to fuel an online angle with Paige. Nikki believes the two have enough name recognition and history with fans to make that approach work outside WWE’s weekly broadcasts.
It would almost be great to keep getting cut and making this an online thing with Paige because we do have so much equity and star power. We come from the reality era, too. We’ve done so much that goes beyond the ring. It’ll work. I have a lot of ideas, and I’m prepared for whatever happens and to ruffle feathers. I’m going to watch all these movies of these gaslighting men and be taking notes.
