Nikki Bella appeared at WWE SummerSlam 2025, but not in the way many fans expected. While her return to wrestling earlier this year included in-ring action, her role at SummerSlam involved starring in a backstage commercial for Papa John’s rather than competing live.
Nikki Bella’s Wrestling Comeback Earlier in 2025
Nikki Bella made a notable return to WWE by entering the Women’s Royal Rumble as the 30th participant. This comeback continued in June when she appeared on RAW in a babyface role, engaging with Liv Morgan and being part of a storyline that initially hinted at a Bella Twins versus The Judgment Day match for Evolution 2. Unfortunately, that plan was impacted when “The Miracle Kid” Liv Morgan injured her shoulder, leading to the match’s cancellation.
Despite the setback, Nikki Bella stayed involved in the women’s division. She participated in the Battle Royale at the all-women’s Evolution 2 event, although she did not win. Following that, she competed in her first singles match since 2018 against Chelsea Green. In addition, on the RAW episode before SummerSlam, Nikki joined an eight-woman tag team match with Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and Jade Cargill against The Secret Hervice and Naomi, maintaining an active presence in the weeks leading up to SummerSlam.
Role at SummerSlam Focused on Backstage Commercial Appearance
At SummerSlam, although Nikki Bella did not participate in a wrestling match, she was featured in a backstage segment promoting Papa John’s pizza. After Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss claimed the Women’s Tag Team Championship from Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez, the broadcast cut to a commercial. It showed various tag teams eating Papa John’s pizza backstage while watching the event, including Xavier Woods from The New Day teasing Akira Tozawa of Alpha Academy for the last slice.
In the midst of this playful moment, Nikki Bella arrived carrying several boxes of Papa John’s pizza and assured everyone that there was enough pizza for all present. This commercial emphasized the tagline
“SummerSlam is even better with Papa Johns Epic Stuffed Crust Pizza.”
Fan Reactions and Implications of Nikki Bella’s Limited SummerSlam Role
Many fans expressed disappointment that Nikki Bella’s role at the premium live event did not include any wrestling, especially considering her recent in-ring activity earlier that year. While far from a major storyline at SummerSlam, her presence still connected her to the event and the ongoing WWE narrative, albeit in a promotional capacity.
This appearance may suggest WWE’s current creative direction for Nikki Bella involves maintaining visibility without committing her to significant matches or storylines during major events. Future bookings could reveal whether this role is temporary or indicative of a shift in how the company uses former stars like Bella.
