The AEW Debut That Had Nikki Bella Willing To Commit To Tony Khan
Nikki Bella has revealed that a recent debut made her seriously consider calling Tony Khan to join All Elite Wrestling.
The last time Nikki Garcia – better known as Nikki Bella in WWE – stepped in the ring was at the 2022 Royal Rumble. There, she eliminated two other women before being taken out of the match by her sister, Brie.
The following year, the Garcias announced that their WWE contracts had expired and wanted to start a new chapter in their lives. Since then, neither of the sisters has got back in the ring, however, that nearly changed earlier in 2024.
On March 13th, Mercedes Mone made her long-awaited AEW debut and cut a promo explaining her decision to sign with the company, including her intention to make the women’s revolution global.
Speaking on the Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki said she was so inspired by Mone’s words that she wanted to call Tony Khan and commit to working in AEW. However, the one thing that prevented her making the move was her commitment to her young son.
“Since we’ve been lifting so much, we always say, we always start to get that wrestling mindset, ‘We’re going to go back and do this story and cut this promo.’ You get it, but how serious I got where I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do maybe a year at AEW and I can do it every week.’
“When I saw Mercedes [Mone] debut and cut her promo, that line stuck with me, ‘Here, we’re going to make the evolution worldwide.’ I was like, ‘They do.’ It goes into many leagues, is what she means, it doesn’t have to be at one place. It can be at all these places where all these women are wrestling at.
“I go, ‘Brie, I think I can do it for a year. I can do it here to here and go every week.’ Then, I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like, ‘This is it. I’m going to call Tony Khan. I’m your girl. I will commit.’ Then, I was like, ‘I can’t do that to my son right now. He needs me.'”
Nikki Bella Explains How Much Would Go Into A Wrestling Return
While many might believe that AEW’s schedule would be easy for Garcia to work into her life, she explained that there is a lot more that goes into it than just turning up for TV one day a week.
“Everyone thinks it’s TV one day a week. You have travel, you have preparation. I have to go to San Jose and get in the ring every day. There is a lot that goes into it and that takes all the time away from my son. He needs me the most right now.”
While Brie Garcia’s husband, Bryan Danielson already works in the company, the star said during the episode that Nikki would have to return to the ring alone as she is too busy looking after her own kids, Birdie and Buddy.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.