As of last week, Nikki Bella is back training at the Performance Center, which means that her return to the ring is coming soon. Since late last year, Bella has been out of action healing a neck injury. While she was gone, the Women’s Division has been reinvigorated; it’s on an upswing and one has to think about where Nikki Bella’s place is when she does return.
Bella will be in a brand new WWE women’s division,one that comes with some major changes. Time will tell what and when it will happen, and Bella will not be in the background, especially since she is recognized as the longest reigning Divas Champion. She will surely remind us of that, not to forget Total Bellas which will premiere in October. It will put Bella in an interesting position upon her return.
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With the several changes since Bella’s departure, there are many ways she can be booked for when she does come back. Here are some options WWE can play with.
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5. Signs for SmackDown Live
Recently, WWE has listed Bella as one of its hottest free agents since the Draft last month. The SmackDown women’s division is in need of star power and no doubt Bella has that to offer to the brand. It’s good for the division, in addition to bringing attention to SmackDown for when Total Bellas makes its debut. Plus, her longtime boyfriend John Cena is on SmackDown so it is a no-brainer for her to join the blue brand. Which leads me to this…
4. Automatic contendership
Since it has been announced that SmackDown will get a Women’s Championship, WWE could play like they did with Seth Rollins and automatically give Bella a match for it. However, if WWE throws a curveball and puts Bella on Raw, then there could be an angle for her to get a Championship match. But as I said before, Bella has missed out of the huge transition the Women’s Division has gone through since she was on the injured reserve list. I can see Bella coming back with an attitude and a chip on her shoulder if this should happen.
3. Feud with Sasha Banks
If Bella is on Raw, I could see her automatically gunning for the Legit Boss. Both women are good at throwing shade, and I would love to see what Banks comes up with to embarrass Bella. If what we saw with Banks and Charlotte was any indication of what is to come in the New Era, then Bella has much work to do. Bella has to evolve and come back better than ever. She had better bring her A-game with her when she takes on ‘The Boss’.
2. Feud with Becky Lynch
This may go hand in hand with my number four booking option but Lynch is obviously the top face on SmackDown Live’s women’s division. Lynch is underrated, and while they have tangled in the past when the Divas Revolution was hot both women have so much more to prove, especially in the New Era’s beginning stages. This would be something the fans would tune into and get invested in, as Lynch is long overdue for some gold around her waist. Feuding with Bella might just get her there and would be good for both women. It puts Bella back on the map as someone to take seriously either way.
1. Top female heel for Smackdown
One of the things WWE must fix when Bella returns is to establish her as a heel or a face. The weekly flip-flop changes for her won’t work anymore, and if they really want fans to take her seriously, she has to be one or the other. She would automatically be heel to fans if she returned and captured the Women’s Championship on SmackDown.
I can see Bella being a face for when Total Bellas premieres in two months, and which it would make sense because of promotion factors. But on the flip side, if she returns as a face, there is always a chance to turn her heel, especially with WrestleMania season coming. Bella has a lot of heat on her with the fans, and she can absolutely take advantage of it and use that to fuel her character. She has taken a lot of criticism over the years, and why not let her channel her frustration to her character? Who knows, it might do her some good.
