Published: Sep 5, 2025 by Connel Rumsey | Last Updated: Sep 5, 2025 by Connel Rumsey
Connel has over five years of wrestling journalism experience writing about some of the biggest stories from across the wrestling world. Being a fan for 20 years, Connel has an expansive knowledge from a wide range of various wrestling promotions, including WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and Joshi.@connel1405
WWE
Wade Barrett has provided an update on alleged backstage issues between he and Nikki Bella following WWE Clash In Paris.
At WWE Clash In Paris this past weekend, Nikki Bella challenged Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
On the pre-show and during the match, Barrett made comments questioning whether Bella would be able to hang in the current era of the women’s division, as it’s progressed so much since she was on top in the ‘Divas’ era.
Nikki would mention Barrett’s commentary during the Nikki & Brie Show, where she noted that she took issues with what Barrett said, and said that she had ‘avoided making eye contact’ at Raw on Monday.
She said:
“I would love 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.
“I understand when you wanna be a heel commentator and stuff, but then there’s one thing of like… Michael Cole does this beautifully, and this is why Michael Cole’s 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 as superheroes. We are actually professional athletes and we go through real things, and we have to put that a part of it.
“And honestly that stuff really doesn’t bother me because I get it. I was watching the pre-show and I saw what Wade was saying about me even on the pre-show, and I was sitting there getting ready in the locker room like, ‘Oh. Okay. That’s fine.’
“But what I loved was how Michael Cole then put it about what I’ve been through, what got me here, this era of me. All the things, haven’t had a title match in over seven years.”
Barrett would then provide a follow up tweet, saying:
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.
Today, Barrett provided an update on their issues, noting that he and Nikki had now spoken and smoothed over the issues, with being allowed back into the Bella Army.
He said:
Great news, fight fans.. @NikkiAndBrie and I have spoken, we’ve smoothed things over, and I’ve graciously been allowed back into the Bella Army. Fully paid-up member since FCW 2008
A difference of perspective – to which we are all entitled – but to be clear, some of the personal abuse that gets sent to Nikki on here is reprehensible and completely out of line, so let’s cut that out immediately.
Great news, fight fans.. @NikkiAndBrie and I have spoken, we’ve smoothed things over, and I’ve graciously been allowed back into the Bella Army. Fully paid-up member since FCW 2008 🤝🏻🍷
A difference of perspective – to which we are all entitled – but to be clear, some of the…
— Stu Bennett 🏴🇺🇸 (@StuBennett) September 5, 2025
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