WWE News: Real reason behind Nikki Bella going to SmackDown Live, original plans for Bayley revealed
As seen this past Sunday during the SummerSlam PPV, former 2-time Divas Champion Nikki Bella made her in-ring return after being out of action for more than 10 months due to a neck injury.
In an interview given to Charly Caruso after SummerSlam, the former Divas Champion confirmed that she will be heading into SmackDown Live claiming that she wants to help build the women's division of the blue brand of WWE.
She said:
I’m definitely on the blue side, so, YAY BLUE, I’m on the blue team and I’m very excited because I have my brother-in-law there, Daniel Bryan, I’m very excited to also work with Shane McMahon, but I’m very excited for the Women’s Division there. I really want to help build it. I have a lot of ideas for it."
However, according to cagesideseats.com, one of the main reasons behind Nikki becoming a part of SmackDown is the fact that her boyfriend John Cena is also a part of SmackDown roster. Although the site also noted that her induction will help bolster the women’s divisionon SmackDown.
Speaking of her return, the Wrestling Observer reported that if she had not been medically cleared to return to the ring, then Bayley who ended up being a part of Raw would have been drafted to SmackDown instead.
As we noted before, Nikki Bella made her surprise return during the SummerSlam PPV where she teamed up with Natalya and Alexa Bliss to defeat the team of Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Carmella.
The original plans called for the former NXT star Eva Marie to be the third person on the team which involved Nikki but these plans were nixed after Marie faced a suspension for violating WWE's Wellness Policy and a last minute decision was made to add Nikki to the match.
2 days after her return, the Total Divas star showed up on SmackDown where she was attacked by Carmella.
On the other hand, after making her main roster debut during the Battleground PPV, Bayley showed up on Raw this past Monday night where she was introduced as the latest signing of the red brand by the general manager Mick Foley.
During her first night on Raw, Bayley confronted WWE Women's Champion Charlotte, and challenged her to a match for the Women's championship. Although she declined her challenge and the former NXT Women's champion ended up fighting and defeating Charlotte's protégé Dana Brooke in her Raw debut.