Nikki Bella Details Getting Cleared For WWE Return, Says Same Rules Apply As Her Last Appearance

The Bella Twins are coming back to compete in the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble… and perhaps a run with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships?

On the latest episode of The Bellas Podcast, Nikki and Brie spoke in-depth about Friday’s surprise announcement that the two of them would be entering into the Royal Rumble later this month. Brie, in particular, expressed her excitement about coming back for one night and having some fun:

“The greatest thing about WWE and big pay-per-views like the Royal Rumble is you can come back for one great night and have fun,” Brie Bella said. “When I saw that Lita is in it, even Summer Rae. I miss that girl. I can’t wait to see Summer! That’s what the Royal Rumble does. It just brings together all these different generations of women and men to meet in the ring for one big night, and that’s why it’s important to go to the Royal Rumble because you might not see a lot of our faces again for a really long time.”

“Or you might for the tag titles,” Nikki Bella chimed in quickly, implying this might not be the last we see of The Bella Twins this year.

Nikki also detailed what happened behind the scenes that resulted in her being cleared to compete again, noting that some of the same rules still apply as the last time she stepped into a WWE ring.

“In the world of wrestling, it’s different in the world of just any professional sport. People always make comebacks,” Nikki Bella said. “But what’s beautiful about WWE is that we can make comebacks as many times as we want as long as our bodies let us and doctors because I officially got cleared. I think everyone remembers from Total Bellas when we had the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble. There was a lot of rules on me [competing]. So those are the same.

“But when we were all in Phoenix, I wasn’t allowed to tell you guys when we all went there to do spend a holiday weekend. I went in and saw my surgeon, my Doctor, Dr. Uribe, and you know what I have to say? His staff and him are just amazing. So you all know they opened up the clinic for me. Everyone was headed out for the holidays like because it literally is a few days before Christmas Eve people came in and met me at 7 am because they all were flying out later that day. They came in they scanned me because I did an MRI. I did scans on my brain, my neck x-rays, and everything you could think of they did to make sure.

“Then we went into doctor Uribe’s office, and all these people came in just for me, and it made me feel so special. And then it also I was like manifesting huge like ‘please also let this be a clearance’ because I feel that if all these people came in and then it was a big no. But it was an amazing day, and I wanted to share with everyone, and it’s been a secret, and I’m kind of actually excited that we get to talk about it now instead of waiting for the end of the month, but it just feels good to know that miracles can happen.”

Nikki’s in-ring career has been limited in recent years due to a neck injury she sustained in 2015. Nikki returned in 2016 after a ten-month layoff due to neck surgery, and has not competed since 2018. During her final run, she competed in fifteen total matches including the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, which was her first match after another nine-month layoff hiatus that began at WrestleMania 33.

READ MORE: Mickie James, Bella Twins, Lita And More Confirmed For 2022 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble

What do you make of Nikki and Brie’s comments? Would you like to see them back for longer than just the Royal Rumble match? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit The Bellas Podcast with a link back to this article for the transcription.