What The WWE Doesn’t Want You To 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.
They Had Wardrobe "Malfunctions" On Purpose
Over the years, both Nikki and Brie have suffered some embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions on live TV. While we've all come to terms with the fact that WWE is just TV acting, those wardrobe malfunctions are very real but they're also very planned.
They've only admitted to it once, but the time Brie "accidentally" had part of her chest exposed was done purposely just before a new season of Total Divas aired. Coincidence? We think not.
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.
The WWE Rejected Them At First
Considering the Bella Twins are the biggest female moneymakers for WWE, it's hard to believe they once rejected the pair. In 2006, Nikki and Brie participated in the WWE Diva Search but they didn't make the cut. Granted, they had some tough competition that year. Future Divas Maryse, Rosa Mendes, and Layla were all in the 2006 season.
Luckily, WWE quickly snapped back to reality and offered the Bellas a developmental contract one year later.
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 in 2019 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
In March 2019, 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.
In a March 17, 2019 tweet, 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 on April 15, 2018, 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.
It Turned Out They Wanted Very Different Things
After the engagement was called off, reports began circulating that the couple had different opinions about some important topics. For example, Nikki wanted kids and to start a family but John didn't. Fans of the show Total Divas might also remember the years of complaining Nikki did because John always seemed scared of marriage.
You might think that after five years of dating, you'd know what the person is expecting before you propose. Well, apparently John didn't see it coming and the breakup reportedly left him "devastated."
Was It All Just A Publicity Stunt?
After the engagement fell apart, many fans began to wonder if it was all just another publicity stunt to promote the WWE. Why would John propose to her in such a public way if he didn't want to get married or have kids?
Some people pointed out that the proposal happened just before John's movie Blockers came out. The ratings for Total Bellas also shot through the roof after their engagement fell apart because people were dying to know what happened.
Both The Twins Were Into Brie's Husband
While Nikki has had trouble finding love, Brie has been in a relationship with fellow wrestler Daniel Bryan since 2011. The two got engaged in 2014 and in 2016, Brie semi-retired in order to start a family. While they got a happy ending, it wasn't always looking that way.
WWE had a full storyline where both Bellas fought for the affection of Daniel. The fake feud got a little too real for a bit. Nikki eventually backed off but when Brie and Daniel officially began dating, WWE regretted ever starting the storyline.
Their Mother Also Married A Wrestler
Nikki and Brie grew up in a broken family. Their mother single-handedly raised them and the twins now have a strained relationship with their father. After years of supporting her daughters, their mother Kathy has finally found love again. On September 3, 2015, Kathy married wrestling star and WWE producer, John Laurinaitis, in a private ceremony.
The WWE has tried to keep this under wraps though because they don't want people feeling the Bellas get any special treatment.
Wrestling Wasn't Their First Career Choice
Both Bellas didn't originally set out to become wrestlers. They were actually both soccer players and Nikki, in particular, dreamed of going pro and played for Grossmont College. She played center midfield while Brie was a sweeper.
The twins also tried their hands at other careers. They both spent years waitressing and Nikki actually got a real estate license. After college, they moved to Los Angeles where they started doing modeling, acting, and promotional work. Wrestling was simply an afterthought.
Brie's Tattoo Has A Secret Meaning
One of the easy ways to distinguish the twins is that Brie has a tattoo of bear claws on her lower stomach. The claws are a tribute to a boyfriend she dated when she was young, who died when Brie was only 18.
Brie explained that his death was "a life-changing experience" and that she was fortunate to have "gained spirituality" from his passing. Brie says the bear claws are a reminder that he will always have a special place in her heart.
They're Both Expecting, And Are Due Less Than Two Weeks Apart!
Wow! The twins really are close! In January of 2020, 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, recently engaged to Dancing with the Stars' Artem Chigvintsev, said they weren't even trying to conceive. Congrats to both families on the exciting news!
Nikki Is A Poet
Both of the twins are pretty creative, and Nikki, in particular, has shared her love of the arts. She has said in interviews that one of her favorite hobbies is writing poetry. On one episode of Total Divas, she called it her "escape" like a diary.
Before the premiere of Evolution, she shared a poem on her Instagram for the first time. She even thanks her sister for helping her "become brave" enough to share the poem.
They're Entrepreneurs
The Bellas aren't just wrestlers — thanks to their success, they've created an entire clothing brand. In November 2017, the twins launched Birdiebee, a lifestyle and activewear brand of clothing. The brand is supposed to empower women by "mirroring the twins' passion for life, strength, and women's health."
They didn't stop there though. In early 2019, the pair also launched Nicole + Brizee, which is a beauty and body line featuring makeup and lotions. These twins won't need the WWE soon.
No One Knows Why WrestleMania 29 Was Canceled
In 2013, Nikki and Brie returned to the WWE ring after their semi-retirement. They were placed in a stereotypically cheesy storyline that involved them battling it out against the Funkadactyls.
This feud was supposed to be one of the main acts for the broadcast, but for some reason, it never happened. Why would a fight be advertised then never happen? Many believe it was simply a ploy to increase ratings for Total Divas, which was airing that same day.
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.
The Riot Squad Is Their Biggest Rival
Nikki and Brie have been in a lot of storylines and feuds during their time in the WWE, but their feud against the Riott Squad got totally out of control. It all escalated during one match on RAW, when Brie hit Liv Morgan in the head with a stiff kick and knocked her unconscious.
The match turned into chaos and apparently the mood backstage was "quite tense." Brie faced a lot of backlash for the move.
