'We did something outside of wrestling for the women': How The Bella Twins transformed WWE

When it comes to influential figures in the WWE, the Bella Twins might not be the first words out of your mouth, but there is no denying that Brie Bella (Brianna Monique Danielson) and Nikki Bella (Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace), have left a lasting impact on professional wrestling. 

In fact, so important to WWE’s history, the identical twins made the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020 – just over a decade after their debut – alongside the likes of The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Lita and Trish Stratus. Let’s take a quick look at their WWE journey and where they find themselves today.

Brie and Nikki Bella were signed by WWE in 2007 and assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental territory. Initially, the twins participated in various promotional segments and storylines, honing their in-ring skills and building their personas. They made their main roster debut on the SmackDown brand in 2008.

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Brie was the first to appear on WWE television, debuting on SmackDown on August 29, 2008. She engaged in a feud with Victoria and Natalya, which featured a memorable storyline where Brie would seemingly disappear under the ring during matches and re-emerge refreshed, leading to victories.

This storyline eventually led to the revelation of her twin sister, Nikki (pictured), who was helping Brie win by switching places mid-match. The "Twin Magic" gimmick quickly became a signature move and an integral part of their characters.

The Bella Twins initially portrayed fan-favorite (face) characters, but they transitioned to villainous (heel) roles over time. Their personas evolved, showcasing a blend of athleticism, charm, and cunning tactics. They became known for their in-ring chemistry and coordination, as well as their ability to entertain and engage the audience.

In 2011, the twins found their first significant championship success. Brie Bella won the WWE Divas Championship on April 11, 2011, defeating Eve Torres, as reported by ESPN at the time. Brie's reign lasted for 70 days, establishing her as a credible competitor in the women's division.

Image Credit: YouTube Screenshot @WWE

Nikki Bella followed suit, winning the Divas Championship on April 23, 2012, by defeating Beth Phoenix. Although Nikki's first reign was brief, it signaled the twins' growing prominence in WWE.

A pivotal moment in the Bella Twins' WWE career came with the reality TV series "Total Divas" in 2013. The show, which provided an inside look at the lives of WWE's female wrestlers, brought mainstream attention to the twins and significantly boosted their popularity. As central figures on the show, Brie and Nikki became household names, attracting a broader audience to WWE programming.

One of the most significant highlights of the Bella Twins' WWE career was Nikki Bella's record-breaking reign as Divas Champion, a now-defunct title. Nikki won the title for the second time on November 23, 2014, by defeating AJ Lee at Survivor Series. She held the championship for 301 days, setting a new record for the title.

In 2019, both Brie and Nikki Bella announced their retirement from in-ring competition, citing health concerns and the desire to focus on their growing families and business ventures.

Speaking on the retirement, Brie told The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2019: "I really wanted to go back and fight for the tag titles," Bella told Fallon, as reported by ESPN. "I've always had my neck issues, and after neck surgery it hasn't been OK. I [felt] like I needed to get that checkup before we went back for the tag titles."

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"Then it came back that I herniated the disk above where I had surgery, I have all this inflammation around the metal, and then I have a cyst on my brain," Bella said. "So they were like, 'You're done, no more, you're out.'"

Despite stepping away from active competition, they remained a big part of the WWE and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020. 

The induction caused a stir among some wrestling fans, due to the relatively short run the twins enjoyed in comparison to other Hall of Famers, and how quickly their acceptance came after retiring.

For Brie, it was all down to the impact the pair had on the developing women's division of WWE, which had been rapidly transformed since the pair had debuted.

"I think that's why Vince inducted us into the Hall of Fame," Brie told the podcast 'Sippin’ the Tea Show with Ariane Andrew' in 2021. "I know some people were like, 'I can't believe they got inducted.' But we did something outside of wrestling for the women and I think that was like the big movement, too, [when] mainstream fell in love with women's wrestling. You started seeing more females and young girls come to the shows because of Total Divas and Total Bellas."

"But then mainstream started to look at not just The Rock and John Cena anymore, they started to look at the women and now you've seen the women going into Hollywood which is crazy. You see all these women wrestlers now going into Hollywood and for us, over anything, that's incredible. Because it's nice to see women have something after wrestling because women's careers are shorter than men's," she concluded.

Since their retirment, the pair have been busy working on their business interest, which include their own wine, activewear and beauty brand, their podcast, and incredibly popular YouTube channel Nikka and Brie, and their growing families.

Although retired from active competition, the Bella Twins have made occasional appearances on WWE programming. Their guest spots and involvement in special events, such as the Women’s Royal Rumble matches and reunion shows, continue to delight fans and keep their legacy alive.

In November 2023, Brie hinted at her interest in returning to the WWE, inspired by the current crop of women superstars in the company. She told ESPN: "I feel like there's so many women that we haven't been able to get in the ring with like Rhea Ripley (pictured). I mean we got a little bit during the Royal Rumble but it'd be incredible to get in," she said.

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