Nikki Bella Details Her Heel Turn and Upcoming Match with Stephanie Vaquer

Nikki Bella has revealed the reason behind her heel turn on Stephanie Vaquer that took place two weeks ago on WWE RAW. The unexpected attack marked Bella’s return to the title scene and set the stage for a Women’s World Championship match at Survivor Series this Saturday. Speaking to ESPN, Bella explained that her decision stemmed from a need to establish her place in WWE’s new era.

Bella said that coming from a different generation of performers put pressure on her to prove herself once again. She added that pursuing the championship required a change in approach. According to her, shifting from a friendly attitude to a more aggressive stance felt necessary to reach her goals (via Wrestling Inc).

“I did come back and I am from a different era, and I have something to prove, and sometimes we have to prove that in different ways. Nice can get you so far, but sometimes you got to be bad to get what you really want. And so I feel like the only way I could get what I want is to go in that direction.”

The upcoming Survivor Series match features a clear contrast between Bella and Vaquer. Nikki Bella noted that both bring different styles and mindsets shaped by different eras. She said the match would carry strong emotion due to their contrasting perspectives and the high stakes of competing for the championship.

“A lot of intensity. I think what makes this match extremely special is you truly are seeing two women from two different eras with two different mentalities and there’s going to be a lot of emotion. So, I think no matter what the outcome is going to be this Saturday, it’s going to definitely leave you feeling very interested in what’s to come next.”

Survivor Series will stream this Saturday at 7 ET/4 PT on the ESPN app for U.S. viewers and on Netflix for international audiences. The event will feature Bella’s attempt to capture the Women’s World Championship from Vaquer.