What happened
During the September 4 episode of WWE SmackDown, Cathy Kelley was conducting a backstage interview with Nikki Bella when Paige interrupted the segment, according to Fightful.
Paige told Nikki Bella, “I built my career on hustle, loyalty, and respect. You just slept with it,” referencing Nikki’s past relationship with John Cena, per Fightful’s report.
WrestleZone reported that Nikki had been discussing her problems with Paige when the confrontation turned personal and brought Cena’s name into the exchange.
What we know
Paige reportedly told Nikki, “I’m not gonna touch you, baby girl. Don’t worry. But I love how uneasy I make you feel,” according to Fightful’s account of the segment.
eWrestlingNews reported that Paige referenced bad blood between the two dating back to their earlier days in WWE before making the comment about Nikki’s past relationship.
WrestleZone reported that Nikki blamed Paige for letting the Bella brand down and ruining her reputation during the same segment.
What is not confirmed
None of the available sources specify what ongoing storyline or match is driving this rivalry, and no future segment or match involving these two has been confirmed.
Why it matters
The personal nature of Paige’s comment, directly invoking Nikki Bella’s history with John Cena, signals an escalation in what multiple outlets describe as long-standing tension between the two performers dating back to their earlier WWE tenures.
