Brie Bella Admits She Was Nervous Before WWE Royal Rumble Return

The Bella Twins are officially back in the hunt for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Following a surprise reunion at the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Brie and Nikki Bella have set their sights on the titles currently held by Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. This marks a major shift for the duo as they transition from legends to active competitors in a revamped division.

Brie Bella’s return to the ring was particularly noteworthy. She had not competed in over three years, with her last official match occurring back at the 2022 Royal Rumble. During a recent appearance on Good Morning America, Brie confessed to feeling immense pre-match nerves.

She wondered if the current audience would still connect with her character after such a long hiatus. The crowd erupted when her music hit, a moment Brie described as leaving her “on cloud nine.” Nikki Bella even joked that her sister received the biggest reaction of the entire night (H/T Fightful), stating, “Oh my gosh, it was surreal. It was such an incredible feeling, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if anyone was gonna remember me. So when I came out, and the crowd was so loud and crazy, it was overwhelming, and literally, I’m still on cloud nine.”

Brie Bella also noted that the current strength of the women’s division inspired her comeback. She felt she could no longer watch from the sidelines while the industry evolved so rapidly. She stated, “I just feel like this was the perfect time for The Bella Twins. The women’s division is on fire. It’s the best I’ve ever seen it, and I’m just like, ‘I can’t sit at home anymore and be watching like a fan.’ I’m like, ‘I gotta get in.'”

On the February 2 episode of RAW on Netflix, the Bella Twins solidified their intent to challenge for the tag titles with a promo. They made it clear they are not just back for a one-off appearance.

THE BELLA TWINS ARE BACK ❤️@NikkiAndBrie pic.twitter.com/Edkek8KWfG

— WWE (@WWE) February 3, 2026