22 Facts You May Not Know About The Bella Twins
When it comes to the women of WWE, the Bella Twins absolutely dominate. Nikki and Brie Bella and two of the top divas in wrestling and they've built an empire around their success. The pair are both former Divas champions, have their own reality show, and have had some high-profile relationships.
With that much success, of course, the WWE is going to do everything they can to keep them around, and out of scandals, so they continue to make the company money. Throughout the years though, some Bella secrets have been revealed.
Tony Atlas Claimed Their Fame Was Bought
The Bella Twins have had to deal with a lot of rumors of the years, but one allegation that almost ruined them came from Tony Atlas. The wrestler claimed the twins couldn't make it on their own in wrestling but got to the position they are in because they performed certain adult "acts" with other wrestlers.
Nikki, Brie, or WWE have never responded to the horrendous allegations. They figured that responding to the allegations would just draw unnecessary attention to the rumors.
They Were Supposed To Have A Feud
The Bellas made their name in WWE fighting as a team, but there was one potential storyline where they would fight against each other. In 2014, Brie was up against Stephanie McMahon and Nikki was supposed to suddenly enter the ring and take down her own sister with a forearm shot to the face.
The feud was planned to go on for thirty days and end in a Nikki vs. Brie match, but WWE decided against it. At the last minute, they swapped it out for a steamier storyline where Brie kisses AJ Lee and Nikki takes the title.
Their Names Aren't Nikki And Brie
Nikki and Brie Bella are the stage names of Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace and Brianna Monique Garcia-Colace. Understandably, neither of those names really roll off the tongue. The two decided to use their childhood nicknames for their first names.
The two women are of Mexican and Italian descent, so "Bella" came from the word beautiful in Italian. Many fans didn't even know the twins' last name until John Cena proposed to Nikki in the ring!
Nikki Hid A Secret Marriage From Everyone
After the premiere of Total Bellas, some of the twins' deepest, darkest secrets came out for everyone to hear. One secret included Nikki admitting to John that she had been married previously for three years, but no one knew.
Nikki was 20 years old when she first tied the knot with her high school boyfriend. The marriage lasted for three years and no one, not even her family, knew about it. When the episode premiered, Nikki had some answering to do.
Nikki Bella Surprises Fans With Retirement
Nikki Bella shocked her fans when she announced her immediate retirement from the WWE just weeks before Wrestlemania. The announcement came one month after Brie announced the same decision on Total Divas.
Speaking about her decision, Nikki said the punishment of fighting was too much for her body to handle at 35-years-old. She was also exhausted from touring and traveling around the world. With the WWE officially in her past, Bella plans to focus her energy on her burgeoning fashion brand.
They Might Return To The Ring... Again
Brie announced that once and for all, she was retiring from in-ring competition. She had gone into semi-retirement in 2016 to start a family with her husband and returned not long after the birth of her daughter. One week later, we found out that might not be the case.
The Bellas appeared tempted to get back in the ring. When a fan asked if they'd return, Brie tweeted "Nikki keeps saying never say NEVER." We'll just have to wait and see.
Nikki And John Were A Match Made In WWE Heaven
Nikki began dating fellow wrestler John Cena in 2012. They began dating not long after John filed from divorce from his first wife. John appeared on Total Bellas multiple times over the years and the pair would even work as a tag team in the ring.
Five years later on April 2, 2017, John proposed to Nikki at WrestleMania 33 following their mixed tag team match. The pair began planning their wedding but, called off the engagement.
He Was Guarded From The Start
Fans of Total Bellas might have seen that the relationship between John and Nikki wasn't exactly perfect. One year after they started dating, Nikki was set to move in with John but he made her sign a 75-page contract before she could walk through the door.
In the show, Nikki even wondered aloud to her sister if John "knows he doesn't want to be with me forever." To make things worse, they spent 70% of their time away from each other.
They're Both Expecting, And Are Due Less Than Two Weeks Apart!
Wow! The twins really are close! They announced to People that not only are they both pregnant, but their due dates are less than two weeks apart. Brie said that the timing was completely unplanned.
"[This was] a total surprise," added Nikki. “It took even me a good week to come to terms with like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm pregnant.’ I’m not ready for it.” Brie already has a two-year-old with Daniel Bryan and was not expecting another. And Nikki, married to Dancing with the Stars' Artem Chigvintsev, said they weren't even trying to conceive. Congrats to both families on the exciting news!
They're Pretty Private For Reality Stars
Considering the fact that they have their every move televised for millions to watch, the Bella Twins are actually pretty private people. When they signed on to do their own reality show, they made it clear that only some parts of their lives could be filmed.
In particular, a lot of Nikki and John's relationship was kept under wraps. The twins have also made a point that no cameras are allowed at family dinners. These two are Italian through and through.
