Should Nikki Bella retain her championship until “SummerSlam,” it will mark a 273-day reign, only 22 days shy of surpassing AJ Lee’s record. A win would cement her as the most dominant Diva in the division, a loss would kick her off of her pedestal, and a loss by the hands of Brie Bella would be nothing short of devastating. Which is why it’s exactly what WWE should do.
It’s been one year since a forearm to the face split the Bellas the first time, making it the perfect, if not the last opportunity in the near future to split them again. But this time, with a role reversal. What if there was some validity to Nikki’s complaints last year? What if Brie really is manipulative and controlling, what if she’s cold and calculating and so set on revenge she’d wait a whole year to get it? It’s a chance for Brie to stretch her muscles as a heel, which hasn’t always been her strong suit. Meanwhile, Nikki can use her already existing popularity and work on her mic skills as a face. It would be good for both of
them.
Storyline wise, it’s also the best one they could tell, and the set up is there just waiting to be used. Nikki’s been a defending champ, sure, but the vast majority of her title wins have been due to direct intervention by her sister. Everything from the “kiss of death” that won her the belt back at “Survivor Series,” to the Twin Magic that maintained the title against Paige most recently at “Money in the Bank,” Brie has been a driving force of Team Bella’s reign. It’s easy to reveal that her motives weren’t just sisterly love, but actually intentionally building Nikki up so she could knock her down.
This is a far more compelling storyline, she’s more than a catty mean girl. She’s downright cruel. She spent a whole calendar year making sure Nikki had everything to lose. Meaningful matches come and go, and she could win the Diva’s championship again in her career, but the longest Diva’s championship reign at over 295 days? She will never, ever, taste that again, and a forearm to the face took that all away. Brie will instantly establish herself as a credible heel, and since she loves clichés so much, there’s a “Don’t get mad, get even” just waiting for her.
In-ring there’s so much they could do to tell the story. Show Brie as a cool and cunning heel, using her cunning exploit her weakness. Show Nikki as the passionate and driven face, running on instinct and working fast and energetically. If styles make matches there’s no reason these two shouldn’t make each other shine.
At the end of the day, yes, “blood is thicker than water,” and they can split and repair the Bella’s as often as they want. I’ll keep believing it, because that’s what sisters do. So they might as well do something really truly interesting with their feud. Jerry Spring is not invited this time.
