STEP UP: Nikki Bella
The Nikki Bella heel turn was predictable, but it was also very enjoyable. I thought Brie and Stephanie did an admirable job at SummerSlam, and the involvement of Nikki and Triple H added an extra layer of drama that really told a compelling story from bell to bell. At the end of the PPV it was Nikki who stood tall, and by the end of Raw Monday night, she was the Bella that had everyone talking.
If you take a step back, you realize that this program started with Daniel Bryan chasing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship a year ago. Brie’s relationship with Daniel has created a spotlight, which has now given Brie a platform to have a semi-main event at the second biggest PPV of the year. She’s been in the ring aside Triple H and Stephanie McMahon – The Authority – and celebrated/mourned with a world champion. Her wedding was the showcase of a hit E! reality series. Meanwhile, it was Nikki who was wrestling on Raw and Smackdown every week. It was Nikki in handicap matches, taking the brunt of a rivalry that didn’t even involve her. It was Nikki having her struggling relationship with John Cena put on display for the world to see, while her sister got to live out her dreams in spectacular fashion.
When you really take a step back, the Bella Twin story is the most intricately crafted program WWE has put together in a very, very long time. That’s why it was so compelling at SummerSlam, and in the weeks leading up to the big match. Whether intentional or not, they had a narrative that weaved in and out of the entire WWE product that dates back an entire year; a narrative that wasn’t shoved down the fan’s throats, that wasn’t the main event of every show for months. Nikki turning on Brie was, in the end… Best for Business.
