Nikki Bella Defends SummerSlam Attack on Paige, Eyeing 2 More Title Runs

Q: Did Brie Bella quietly side with Nikki, and what does that mean for Paige’s next move against the Bellas?

Yes — on the evidence presented, Brie Bella appeared to quietly side with Nikki. The key detail is not just that Nikki attacked Paige after the SummerSlam loss, but that Brie watched the assault, did not intervene, and then left the ring with Nikki. In wrestling storytelling, that usually signals alignment unless WWE later reveals hesitation or internal conflict. Brie’s silence matters even more because she and Paige had recently won and defended the women’s tag titles together after Paige replaced an injured Nikki at WrestleMania 42. That makes Paige’s next move fairly clear: the story now points toward a feud with both Bellas, not just Nikki. Paige’s immediate reaction on X — “Oh you f----d up” — reads like a direct setup for retaliation. WWE also has a strong built-in motive for Paige: she helped Brie when Nikki was out, helped win the titles, and was then abandoned and attacked after taking the pin in the SummerSlam match. There is still a narrow opening for WWE to play Brie as conflicted rather than fully heel. Because she did not physically join the attack, the company could frame her as shocked, torn between her twin and her former partner. But based on the segment itself, viewers are meant to believe Brie chose Nikki over Paige. The likely next chapter is Paige seeking revenge on the Bellas, while Fatal Influence remains elevated by the win and could keep orbiting the feud as champions and opportunists on SmackDown.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 2

Nikki Bella said Paige "deserved" the post-SummerSlam beatdown, framing the attack as a business move to clear a path for one or two more championship runs before retirement.
On WWE Radio's Busted Open, Nikki said Paige was in her way and vowed the aggression would continue, reinforcing the Bella Twins' heel turn after their tag-team loss.
That loss came against Fatal Influence, with Paige taking the fall, and the Bellas had already singled her out as the weak link when they attacked after the final bell.
Paige answered on social media with an NSFW promise of revenge, but any immediate in-ring follow-up may center on Nikki alone because Brie Bella suffered a shoulder injury at SummerSlam.