WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella recently joined Cody Rhodes on his podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, where they revisited a painful memory from WWE WrestleMania 29 in 2013. The discussion focused on a mixed tag team match that included Brodus Clay, Tensai, Naomi, and Cameron facing Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, and The Bella Twins—an exciting match that was canceled just moments before it was set to air.
The planned bout promised a unique scene, pairing top male and female wrestlers, but despite the buildup, it never made it to the live broadcast.
Reflections on a Scrapped Opportunity
Cody Rhodes expressed his frustration over the lost opportunity, referencing the prominence of their roles in WWE programming.
Here you are, you have, literally, Total Divas being your show. Moving into Total Bellas, executive producing. This wonderful career that comes out of it,
he explained. He questioned the legitimacy of the match being cut, addressing rumors surrounding the decision.
The reason I’m asking about this photo (of us before our match got cut) is because the conspiracy was that the match was never supposed to happen in the first place… but I felt like we… weren’t thinking that.
Nikki Bella immediately countered the conspiracy theory, confirming the match’s removal from the lineup.
No. This is my thing, because I’ve heard this, a lot. I mean, then, it was kind of notorious that matches would get cut, right? So, I feel like it actually really did get cut,
she stated. She further shared the emotional toll the cut match took on her.
But, if they cut it for drama for TV, that actually pisses me off… I’ve had some walk of shames in college. That was the worst walk of shame I’ve ever done in my life.
The two shared a somber tone as Cody admitted how deeply the cancellation influenced his perspective on his WWE career.
I knew you guys had been hit hard by it… There was one point — I’m not naming names — who is overly optimistic and like, ‘Alright! Well, we’ll do it at Raw!’ I was so angry… That’s the first moment where I was like, ‘I’m out.’ Out didn’t come till years later, but I thought, no, I’m out… Ah man, I can’t believe that match got cut in Gorilla.
The Emotional Impact on Wrestlers
Nikki Bella summarized the shared experience of many performers who have seen key moments disappear unexpectedly.
You know what I mean? No one will ever understand it unless you’re us in that feeling… At that time, our biggest moment just taken right from us.
The honest conversation illuminated the emotional weight of the cancellation for both wrestlers early in their careers.
This behind-the-scenes glimpse into the cut Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 29 match illustrates the unseen challenges professional wrestlers face, shaping their futures both personally and professionally.
