Nikki Bella Reflects on Her Iconic Match Against Ronda Rousey at WWE Evolution

Nikki Bella's Return to WWE and Evolution's Significance

After a hiatus due to a neck injury sustained before Wrestlemania 33, Nikki Bella made her return to WWE programming a year later for a significant event. At that time, Ronda Rousey was dominating the WWE Raw Women’s Division, holding the top title. Nikki challenged the UFC Hall of Famer for a championship match, which became the main event for Evolution, the WWE's inaugural all-women wrestling event.

Both Nikki Bella and Ronda Rousey were prominent figures in their respective fields of pro-wrestling and MMA, and WWE aimed to leverage their star power to ensure the success of Evolution I, a strategy that proved effective. Now, as the second edition of the event approaches, Nikki has revisited that memorable match.

During the SummerSlam Kickoff, where Nikki was present, WWE announced the return of Evolution this July. When asked about her match with Ronda Rousey at the first Evolution, Nikki reflected on its impact on her career, stating it was a defining moment for her.

“It was a career highlight. Nothing gets bigger than that for me, I mean, maybe some things now in the future; we’ll see,” Nikki shared. “That was the top of the top, and it truly marked what that pay-per-view means, Evolution, from all of the women in the past, the blood, sweat, tears, the triumphs, everything.”

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Changes to Nikki Bella's Plans for Evolution II

Nikki Bella made her WWE television comeback on June 9, confronting Liv Morgan, the Women’s Tag Team Champion. This segment concluded with Morgan executing her finisher on Nikki, setting the stage for a potential match at WWE Evolution 2025, which could be a singles or tag team match involving Brie Bella and Raquel Rodriguez.

However, a week later, Morgan suffered a shoulder dislocation, leading to the cancellation of those plans. Despite this setback, reports indicate that Nikki Bella will still participate in the upcoming event in some capacity, and she has been included in the official promotional materials. While Nikki is enthusiastic about the legacy of Evolution, the backstage response to the event's announcement has been mixed.