Nikki Bella Breaks Silence On Why Her Paige Feud Was Cut To Three Minutes On SmackDown

Former WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella has opened up about her recent rivalry with Paige, revealing that the program was originally expected to climax on a Premium Live Event (PLE) before pivot plans resulted in a sudden three-minute match on WWE SmackDown.

Speaking on The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki admitted that both she and Paige approached the storyline believing they were building toward a marquee pay-per-view showcase before WWE management altered the creative direction.

“How Can I Make This The Best?”

Rather than getting frustrated by the last-minute change, Nikki explained how she immediately adapted her mindset to focus on long-term storytelling:

“So we, it was like, even though, you know, we thought we were gonna have this, like, PLE match and I came in, like, super prepped for that and, you know, it turned in… and I love storytelling. So, like, let’s continue this.”

Nikki added that shifting from a PLE feature to a quick television segment forced her to find ways to generate heat and leave fans wanting more:

“No, but that’s what I knew. You didn’t let me finish. Yeah, that’s what I was saying is that’s, I’m all about the story. So, like, take it away and then you put in that and it’s great heat, right? And it gets people talking and now they’re like, ‘When’s this gonna happen? What’s next?’ I love that stuff.”

Applying Lessons From Steve Keirn

During the podcast, Brie Bella noted that depriving fans of a conclusive payoff on television often works in the story’s favor by creating anticipation. Nikki agreed, referencing advice from veteran wrestling trainer Steve Keirn about making every segment memorable regardless of time constraints or outcomes:

“So this past week and, like, Friday and, you know, and it kind of goes with what you said a little bit, but meaning, like, when certain situations come into your life and let’s say that maybe it’s not exactly how you saw what was gonna happen. So if it’s a presentation or a pitch you showed up to give, or it was a party you were gonna throw, I’m just trying to think of different backgrounds. Yeah. Like, whatever it is you do in life and then this is what you think is gonna happen, and it doesn’t quite happen.”

“I always think of instead of shutting down and being, I don’t wanna say go into victim mode, but being like, ‘Oh, like, of course me,’ or, ‘This isn’t gonna work now.’ And just because the situation has changed, it’s to put the mindset in, like, ‘How can I make this now the best?’”

“So I thought I was gonna have this big PLE match, and now I’m given this, and how am I gonna make it the best? How am I gonna make it talked about? You know, I always think about Steve Keirn when he used to tell us, like, ‘Who cares if you win or lose? It’s how you lose. It’s how you win. But if you’re gonna lose all the time, well, how are you gonna lose so it’s always talked about?’ Remember, he always teaches that.”

Nikki concluded by stating she remains confident that the ongoing narrative with Paige will ultimately lead to a larger payoff down the road.