For the first time since Stephanie McMahon‘s arrest on Raw, Nikki Bella is speaking out in an interview with WWE.com.
In it, she discusses the hardship she’s faced at the hands of Stephanie, the impact of her sister Brie‘s actions and what she expects to happen next.
Having Brie at ringside on Raw: “I was so excited to see my sister there. Everything I’ve been going through and what The Authority has put me through, it just felt really good to know my sister was close and supporting me. It made it easier to step into battle even though it was four-versus-one. I had some confidence knowing my sister was so close. I didn’t imagine everything was going to turn out like it did.”
Brie’s altercation with Stephanie: “You know, I had a lot of emotions running through my head. I was in shock, but at the same time I’m proud of Brie for sticking up for herself. In the end, my sister doesn’t work here, so whatever she does with Stephanie that’s on them. At the same time, I do still work here, so there’s a part of me that went, “Oh great, is this gonna affect me?” I was very nervous coming into work [Tuesday]. Honestly, I didn’t even think they were gonna let me come into work until everything with Stephanie was figured out. I know she got bailed out of jail at 4:00 in the morning, but I didn’t know if she was gonna be here or go home, so I was very nervous.
But I was very proud of my sister. We’re family, and Daniel Bryan is her husband. She was just sticking up for her family, and I can’t blame my sister for that. Everything that’s been happening to me lately, it’s not Brie’s fault. Daniel has worked so hard in his career to get to where he’s at. And he didn’t ask for his neck surgery. To strip him [of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship] and take everything away from him, was that right? Brie did the right thing by sticking up for her husband and making the decision [to quit]. How do I blame my sister for that? I would do the same thing for John Cena. I don’t blame Brie for anything, I’m just proud of her. But I will admit: It made me wonder what’s in store next for me now.”
Backlash from Stephanie’s arrest: “I’m prepared for the absolute worst. I am the lone Bella, I have no more family here. I’m completely by myself. The Authority has the power to turn everyone against me and they have. So here, I stand alone, and Monday I’m prepared to stand more alone than ever. The one thing I’ve said before, the one thing that I’ve been taught is that when you fall, you get right back up. And I’m up. And I will stand tall going into whatever they have for me Monday. I might fall, and I might cry, but I will always stay strong and I’ll stay fearless. That’s all I can be is fearless.”
What did she say to Brie afterwards?: “Well, naturally, Brie and I bicker like every 10 minutes about everything in life. So there’s been moments of, ‘Hey, Brie, you’re there to support me, and then you go call my boss the B-word and get slapped!’ So we have those moments of bickering, but I don’t blame Brie for any of this. She’s standing up for what’s right, and that’s all that matters in the end.”
Read the interview on WWE.com.
What do you think will happen to Nikki on Raw?