Nikki Bella Criticises Wade Barrett, Commentator Responds
Nikki Bella and Wade Barrett have exchanged words.
At Clash In Paris, Nikki Bella challenged Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in her first title match since 2018. But despite her best efforts, it was Lynch who walked away with the gold, and seemingly straight into a new feud with CM Punk and AJ Lee.
During the match, Lynch was cheered, while Bella was booed, despite being the babyface. Nikki Bella later thanked the fans for getting involved and claimed she expected the mixed reaction.
However, she was much less impressed with a different WWE star.
On the latest episode of the Nikki & Brie Show, Bella took issue with comments made by commentator Wade Barrett during the broadcast. He had suggested that Bella was desperate to prove she’s still got it against a generation that’s changed the game during commentary.
Bella wasn’t a fan of the line and claimed Barrett then ignored her during the taping for Raw a day later.
“I would like to have a conversation with Wade Barrett. He avoided me on Monday, which was shocking, because he always comes up and says hi to me. He tried to avoid making eye contact with me in the hallway, and I understand when you want to be a ‘heel commentator’ and stuff, but then there’s one thing of….Michael Cole does this beautifully.
This is why Michael Cole is one of the greatest commentators. He knows how to take a life story and put it into what we do, because that is real. We don’t go out there as robots or superheroes. We are actually professional athletes, and we go through real things, and we have to put that (as) part of it.
Honestly, that stuff really doesn’t bother me. I get it. I was watching the pre-show, and I saw what Wade was saying about me in the pre-show. I’m sitting there getting ready in the locker room, like ‘Oh. Okay. That’s fine.’”
Wade Barrett Confused By Nikki Bella Claims
Taking to social media, Barrett said that he wished Bella had brought up the issue to him in person, rather than on her podcast. He added that he “doesn’t understand” the claims that he avoided her at the taping for Monday Night Raw.
“I had no idea Nicole felt this way, and I’m happy to have this ‘conversation’ any time she likes. I wish she’d brought it up when we said hello to each other at Raw, rather than via her podcast. I don’t understand the avoiding claim at all, simply not true.”
Following Clash In Paris, Tiffany Stratton said she’d love to face Nikki Bella now the WWE Hall of Famer has returned to the ring. The current Women’s Champion named Bella on her list of dream matches alongside the likes of Kelly Kelly and Lita.
H/t to Fightful