During the pre-show for Clash In Paris, Wade Barrett would attempt to hype Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Bella by saying the WWE Hall of Famer was “desperate to prove she still has it against this new generation that has changed the game.” Yet while most people saw this as a throwaway comment, Bella would take to her podcast, claiming she wanted to discuss it with the commentator, but “he avoided me on Monday.”
And now, with quotes from her podcast having gone viral, Barrett has taken to X to say he wishes Bella had addressed this with him directly rather than making it public. Additionally, he would dispute the claim that he avoided her on Monday, revealing they did briefly interact at Raw.
41-year-old Nikki Bella retired from the ring in 2019 and would subsequently be honored along with her sister Brie via a Hall of Fame induction. Still, it came as a huge surprise when the pair departed WWE, having not had their contracts renewed, leading them to become The Garcia Twins. However, Nikki would return in 2025, first as a participant in the women’s Royal Rumble match, and then as a part-time competitor on the Raw roster.
