1. Overview
The Bella Twins, consisting of identical twin sisters Brie Bella and Nikki Bella, were a prominent American professional wrestling tag team best known for their extensive careers in WWE. Both sisters are former WWE Divas Champions, with Brie being the first twin to win the title, and Nikki holding it twice, her second reign of 301 days being the longest for the now-defunct championship. Their careers, marked by the innovative 'Twin Magic' gimmick, significant championship reigns, and prominent roles in reality television, greatly contributed to the visibility and empowerment of women in sports entertainment. After signing with WWE in 2007 and retiring the "Bella" name in 2023, they have since reintroduced themselves as The Garcia Twins, continuing their influence as entrepreneurs and advocates for women's health and wellness. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, a testament to their enduring legacy in professional wrestling.
2. Early life and background
Nicole and Brianna Garcia, later known as The Bella Twins, embarked on a diverse path from their early lives to their eventual rise in professional wrestling and entertainment.
2.1. Childhood and education
Nicole and Brianna Garcia were born on November 21, 1983, in Brawley, California, with Nicole arriving sixteen minutes after Brianna. They spent their formative years raised on a farm on the outskirts of Scottsdale, Arizona. The twins are of Mexican and Italian descent. Throughout their youth, they actively participated in sports, notably playing soccer. They both graduated from Chaparral High School in 2002. Following their high school graduation, they returned to San Diego, where Nicole continued her soccer career at Grossmont College. During this period, both sisters also worked at Hooters.
2.2. Early career before wrestling
A year after returning to San Diego, the twins moved to Los Angeles with aspirations of pursuing careers in acting and modeling. To support themselves, they took on various jobs, including marketing for a defunct record label and working as cocktail waitresses at the Mondrian Hotel. Their first national television appearance was on the Fox reality show Meet My Folks. This exposure led to further opportunities, including being hired as the World Cup Twins for Budweiser, a role that involved being photographed with the World Cup trophy. In 2006, they competed in the "International Body Doubles twins search". They also participated in the 2006 WWE Diva Search, although they did not make the final cut.
3. Professional wrestling career
The professional wrestling careers of The Bella Twins are characterized by their innovative tag team maneuvers, significant championship reigns, and their seamless transition into mainstream entertainment through reality television.
3.1. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
The Bella Twins' extensive tenure with WWE spanned multiple developmental and main roster periods, marked by their signature 'Twin Magic' and various high-profile storylines that elevated their status in the company.
3.1.1. Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW)
In June 2007, Nicole and Brianna Garcia signed developmental contracts with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and were assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was then WWE's developmental territory located in Tampa, Florida. They made their in-ring debut on September 14, defeating Nattie Neidhart and Krissy Vaine in a match officiated by Victoria Crawford as the special guest referee. Early in their on-screen personas, they introduced a deceptive tactic known as "Twin Magic," where they would surreptitiously switch places behind the referee's back if one of them was hurt, often leading to unexpected victories. They also occasionally competed in mixed tag team matches, partnering with male wrestlers such as Kofi Kingston and Robert Anthony. Additionally, they made non-wrestling appearances during Heath Miller's Happy Hour promo segments.
Starting in December 2007, they briefly managed Derrick Linkin, though this storyline was cut short when Linkin was released in January 2008. Following this, they resumed their feud with Neidhart and Crawford, wrestling against them throughout much of 2008. While in FCW, the twins also participated in bikini contests and faced other wrestlers like Katie Lea Burchill, Milena Roucka, and Natalya Neidhart. Their final appearance in FCW occurred on September 2, when they competed in a Divas battle royal which was ultimately won by Miss Angela.
3.1.2. Main roster debut and early storylines
Brianna made her debut on the August 29, 2008, episode of SmackDown as Brie Bella, where she defeated Victoria. She then engaged in a series of matches against Victoria and her ally Natalya. In each match, Brie would typically roll out of the ring, slip underneath it, and then re-emerge seemingly refreshed to secure a victory. This deceptive tactic, the "Twin Magic," built anticipation for several weeks. On the November 7 episode of SmackDown, following a win against Victoria, Brie attempted her usual escape under the ring. However, Victoria and Natalya pursued her, pulling both Nicole and Brie out from beneath the ring, revealing Nicole as Nikki Bella. This marked the official introduction of Nikki Bella to the main roster. The twins then had their first official match as a team on the November 21 episode of SmackDown, where they defeated Victoria and Natalya. They continued to compete together in tag team matches in the subsequent months.
In November, the twins became involved in an on-screen relationship storyline with The Colóns (Carlito and Primo). This storyline expanded in February 2009 to include John Morrison and The Miz, who flirted with the Bellas and took them on a date for Valentine's Day. This date sparked a rivalry between the teams of The Miz and Morrison and Primo and Carlito, with all four men vying for the affection of the twins, who seemingly remained undecided. On March 17, during an episode of ECW, Carlito and Primo, aiming for Morrison and The Miz, accidentally spat apples in Brie's face. Nikki reacted by laughing at Brie's misfortune, leading to a fight between the sisters. Nikki then left with The Miz and Morrison, while Brie remained with Primo and Carlito. The following week on SmackDown, Brie secured her first victory over Nikki in a six-person intergender tag team match. On the March 31 episode of ECW, Nikki pinned Brie in their first singles match against each other, aided by a distraction from Morrison and The Miz.
On April 15, both Bella Twins were drafted to the Raw brand as part of the 2009 supplemental draft. Brie made her Raw in-ring debut on April 27 in an eight-Diva tag team match, which her team won, with Nikki assisting from under the ring, thus reuniting with her twin. Nikki then made her in-ring debut for the brand the following month in a battle royal, but was eliminated by Beth Phoenix.
On June 29, the Bellas were traded to the ECW brand. They debuted on ECW the following night as special guests on The Abraham Washington Show. They quickly developed a storyline feud with Katie Lea Burchill after Nikki defeated her by switching places with Brie. The following week on Superstars, Brie also defeated Burchill similarly. The feud concluded in September when Nikki defeated Burchill on Superstars.
On October 12, the Bellas were traded back to Raw as part of a tri-branded Divas trade. During this period, they predominantly appeared in backstage segments with the weekly guest stars and competed only occasionally. In June 2010, they started a feud with Jillian Hall, with Brie defeating her after a Twin Magic switch. The following week, Nikki defeated Hall using the same tactic. The rivalry escalated when the Bellas served as special guest referees during one of Hall's matches, where Hall attacked both twins, but lost the match after Nikki made a fast count, allowing Gail Kim to pin her. The next week on Superstars, the twins defeated Hall and Maryse in a tag team match, concluding the storyline.
On August 31, The Bella Twins were announced as part of the all-female third season of NXT, where they mentored Jamie. Jamie was the first rookie Diva eliminated on the October 5 episode of NXT. In November, the twins began a storyline with Daniel Bryan, with Brie accompanying him to the ring. After his win, Nikki appeared, and both sisters vied for Bryan's affection until he intervened and had them hug. They began managing Bryan, frequently accompanying him to the ring for the next two months. In January 2011, they discovered Bryan kissing Gail Kim backstage and proceeded to assault her. They continued their attacks on Kim, both at the Royal Rumble on January 30 and the following night on Raw. On February 7, they teamed with Melina in a losing effort against Kim, Eve Torres, and Tamina.
3.1.3. Divas Championship reigns and first departure
The Bellas began a feud with Eve Torres after they appeared as lumberjills during a Divas Championship match between Torres and Natalya on the February 14, 2011, episode of Raw. Following the match, they attacked Torres backstage until Gail Kim and Natalya intervened. The next week on Raw, the twins defeated Torres and Kim in a tag team match. The following week, Nikki won a battle royal to become the number one contender for the Divas Championship, though she unsuccessfully challenged Torres for the championship on March 7.
On April 11, Brie defeated Torres to win the Divas Championship, marking the first time either twin held a championship in WWE. On May 22, Brie successfully defended the championship against Kelly Kelly at Over the Limit after switching places with Nikki. On a special "Power to the People" episode of Raw on June 20, Brie defended her WWE Divas Championship against Kelly Kelly, losing the title and ending her reign at 70 days. On July 17, Brie challenged Kelly Kelly for the championship in a rematch at Money in the Bank, but was unsuccessful.
The Bellas began to show signs of friction in March 2012 after both twins lost to AJ Lee in singles competition. Following Brie's match with Lee, Nikki revealed that Brie was supporting Team Johnny in the 12-man tag team match at WrestleMania XXVIII on April 1, while Nikki was rooting for Team Teddy, further deepening their dissension.
On the April 6 episode of SmackDown, Nikki defeated Divas Champion Beth Phoenix in a non-title match, thanks to a distraction from Kelly Kelly. On April 23, Nikki defeated Phoenix in a lumberjill match on Raw to win the Divas Championship for the first time. Brie then lost Nikki's championship to Layla at Extreme Rules on April 29 after a "Twin Magic" attempt failed, ending Nikki's Divas Championship reign after only a week. The following night on Raw, they competed in their last match with WWE, failing to win back the Divas Championship from Layla in a triple threat match. Later that night, WWE announced that the twins had been "fired" by Executive Administrator Eve Torres, leading to their temporary departure from the company.
3.2. Independent circuit promotions
Following their release from WWE, The Bella Twins made appearances on the independent wrestling circuit. On May 1, 2012, they were featured at their first independent wrestling show in Newburgh, New York, at Northeast Wrestling. They later appeared for CTWE Pro Wrestling at the Season Beatings pay-per-view on December 15, with each twin accompanying a different wrestler to the ring. These appearances provided them with opportunities to remain active in the wrestling world outside of WWE.
3.3. Return to WWE
Their return to WWE marked a new phase in their careers, intertwining their in-ring performances with the burgeoning world of reality television, leading to some of their most high-profile storylines and achievements.
3.3.1. Total Divas era and various feuds
The Bella Twins made their highly anticipated return to WWE on the March 11, 2013, episode of Raw in a backstage segment alongside Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow). On the March 15 episode of SmackDown, the twins immediately re-entered the fray by attacking The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi). The following week, they interfered in matches involving Team Rhodes Scholars, Brodus Clay, and Tensai, only to be thwarted by The Funkadactyls. The twins officially made their in-ring return on the March 27 episode of Main Event, defeating The Funkadactyls with an assist from Cody Rhodes. They were scheduled for an eight-person tag team match at WrestleMania 29 on April 7, partnering with Team Rhodes Scholars against Tons of Funk (Clay and Tensai) and The Funkadactyls, but the match was canceled due to time constraints. It was instead held the following night on Raw, where The Bella Twins and Team Rhodes Scholars were defeated. In June, Nikki suffered a fractured tibia, briefly sidelining her from active competition.
The debut of the reality television program Total Divas in July initiated a new era for The Bellas. They became central figures on the show, and their real-life and on-screen narratives often overlapped. This led to a scripted feud with their co-star Natalya, during which Brie and Natalya exchanged victories in singles competition on Raw and at SummerSlam on August 18. Subsequently, the entire cast of Total Divas became embroiled in a feud with the Divas Champion AJ Lee, who frequently mocked the reality show and its cast members. At Night of Champions on September 15, Brie unsuccessfully challenged Lee for the Divas Championship in a four-way match, which also included Natalya and Naomi. Continuing their rivalry into October, Brie and Lee faced each other again at Battleground and Hell in a Cell for the Divas Championship, with Brie failing to capture the title on both occasions. Nikki returned to in-ring action on the October 25 episode of SmackDown, also losing to Lee. At Survivor Series on November 24, the twins were part of the victorious Team Total Divas. On April 6, 2014, they once again failed to win the Divas Championship at WrestleMania XXX in the Divas Invitational match, which was won by Lee.
3.3.2. Sibling rivalry and formation of Team Bella
In April 2014, Brie became deeply involved in her real-life husband Daniel Bryan's ongoing storyline with Stephanie McMahon and Kane. As part of this storyline, McMahon threatened to fire Brie if an injured Bryan did not relinquish the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback on June 1. This ultimatum forced Brie to "quit" WWE on-screen, after which she defiantly slapped McMahon across the face. Following Brie's "quitting," McMahon retaliated by punishing Nikki, forcing her into several handicap matches.
After a month-long absence from WWE television, Brie returned on July 21, appearing in the crowd. She confronted McMahon, who subsequently slapped Brie and was dramatically arrested as a result. To have Brie drop the "charges" against her, Brie was rehired and granted a match against McMahon at SummerSlam. However, at the event on August 17, Nikki shockingly attacked Brie, which allowed McMahon to win the match. The subsequent weeks saw the twins engage in a bitter rivalry, featuring numerous backstage and in-ring confrontations, including a memorable cameo appearance by Jerry Springer on Raw on September 8. As part of the storyline, McMahon declared Nikki the "face of the WWE Divas division" and granted her a Divas Championship match at Night of Champions, which she failed to win. At Hell in a Cell, Nikki defeated Brie in a match where the loser was forced to become the winner's personal assistant for 30 days.
Nikki and Brie reunited at Survivor Series on November 23 when Nikki defeated AJ Lee with Brie's assistance to become a two-time Divas Champion. Nikki successfully defended her championship on three separate occasions: against Lee in a rematch at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 14, against Naomi two days later on SmackDown, and against Paige on February 22, 2015, at Fastlane. Paige and Lee then formed an alliance against the Bellas, leading to a tag team match at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, which the Bellas lost.
On April 20, 2015, at Monday Night Raw, the Bella Twins briefly turned babyfaces. After Nikki retained her title over Naomi at Extreme Rules on April 26, Nikki began a feud with Naomi, who then aligned with the returning Tamina to even the odds against the Bellas. This led to a tag team match between the two teams at Payback on May 17, which Naomi and Tamina won. At Elimination Chamber on May 31, Nikki retained her title against Naomi and Paige in a triple threat match, with Brie banned from ringside.
In June, The Bella Twins reverted to being heels by re-employing Twin Magic, which helped Nikki retain the title against Paige on the June 1 episode of Raw and at Money in the Bank on June 14. During their feud with Paige, Alicia Fox allied with them to form Team Bella. At The Beast in the East on July 4, Nikki retained the title against Paige and Tamina.
After weeks of Team Bella outnumbering Paige, Naomi, and Tamina, Stephanie McMahon initiated a "revolution" in the WWE Divas division. This involved introducing the debuting Charlotte and Becky Lynch as Paige's allies, while NXT Women's Champion Sasha Banks debuted as an ally to Naomi and Tamina, leading to a brawl among the three factions. Nikki then lost to Charlotte in a tag team match on the August 3 episode of Raw and to Banks on the August 17 episode of Raw in a non-title match. On August 23, the three teams clashed at SummerSlam in a three team elimination match, where Team Bella first eliminated Team B.A.D. before Team PCB secured the victory. On the September 14 episode of Raw, Nikki defended her title against Charlotte. Although Charlotte pinned Brie after the twins had attempted a switch, Nikki retained the championship as titles cannot change hands by disqualification. In this process, Nikki became the longest-reigning Divas Champion in history, surpassing AJ Lee's previous record of 295 days.
3.3.3. Sporadic appearances and Hall of Fame induction
On September 20, 2015, Nikki dropped the Divas Championship to Charlotte at Night of Champions, ending her record-breaking reign at 301 days. She failed to regain the title in a rematch at Hell in a Cell on October 25. Shortly thereafter, Nikki went on a hiatus from both television and in-ring competition due to a neck injury that required surgery. She made a one-night return on December 21 to accept the Slammy Award for Diva of the Year. During Nikki's absence, Brie continued to compete in singles matches and tag team matches with Fox, though Team Bella quietly disbanded during this period. Brie was unsuccessful in winning the Divas Championship at Fastlane on February 21 in a match against Charlotte.
In March 2016, Brie began a feud with Lana, who criticized Brie's fans for supporting her out of pity due to her "bad husband" (referring to Daniel Bryan). Brie then allied herself with fellow Total Divas cast members Alicia Fox, Natalya, Paige, and Eva Marie. Lana, in turn, aligned with Team B.A.D. (Naomi and Tamina), Summer Rae, and Emma (forming Team B.A.D. and Blonde). This led to a 10-woman tag team match on the WrestleMania 32 kickoff show on April 3, which Team Total Divas won when Naomi submitted to Brie. Following the match, Nikki returned and celebrated with her co-stars. On April 6, Brie confirmed her decision to take an extended break from in-ring competition due to family reasons, while stating that she would continue to work for WWE as an ambassador.
On January 22, 2018, during the Raw 25 Years special episode, The Bella Twins were honored as part of a segment recognizing women considered legends who significantly contributed to WWE's success. At the Royal Rumble on January 28, Brie and Nikki participated in the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match, entering at numbers 28 and 27, respectively. They made it to the final four alongside Asuka and Sasha Banks, with Nikki eliminating Brie before being eliminated herself by the eventual winner, Asuka. On the September 3 episode of Raw, The Bella Twins competed for the first time in three years, defeating The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan). The Bellas then teamed with Ronda Rousey to defeat The Riott Squad at WWE Super Show-Down on October 6 and won the rematch two nights later on Raw. However, after the rematch, the Bellas shockingly attacked Rousey, turning heel. Nikki received a title opportunity against Rousey at WWE Evolution on October 28, but was unsuccessful. In March 2019, both Bellas announced their retirement from in-ring competition on Total Bellas, with Brie making her announcement on the March 10 episode and Nikki on the season finale on March 24.
On February 21, 2020, it was announced during an A Moment of Bliss segment on SmackDown that both Bella Twins would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was postponed and eventually took place the following year. After a three-year break from wrestling, The Bella Twins made a return to the ring on January 30, 2022, to participate in the 2022 Royal Rumble.
3.4. Post-WWE career
On March 14, 2023, on their podcast The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki and Brie announced that their contracts with WWE had expired. They mutually agreed not to renew their contracts, citing a desire to embark on a new chapter in their lives. Following this decision, they officially retired the "Bella" name and reintroduced themselves to the public as The Garcia Twins, embracing "Garcia" as their maiden name.
4. Wrestling style and signature moves
The Bella Twins developed a distinctive wrestling style that combined athleticism with their unique "Twin Magic" gimmick. Each sister also had a set of signature moves that defined their individual in-ring presence.
4.1. Brie Bella's signature moves
Brie Bella primarily utilized a more agile and submission-oriented wrestling style. Her key signature moves included:
- Yes Lock: A variation of the crossface submission, different from the traditional move in that Brie would also trap one of her opponent's arms with her legs in a hammerlock before applying the facial squeeze. This move gained significant popularity due to its association with her husband, Daniel Bryan.
- Brie Mode: A missile dropkick, often executed with a high leap from the top rope, targeting a standing opponent.
- Dropkick: A fundamental but effective move, typically delivered to an opponent's chest.
- Snap suplex: A quick, powerful suplex where she would lift her opponent and quickly throw them down onto their back.
- Half Boston crab: A submission hold where she would apply pressure to the opponent's back and legs.
4.2. Nikki Bella's signature moves
Nikki Bella's style was characterized by more power-based and impactful maneuvers. Her primary signature and finishing moves included:
- Rack Attack: Her primary finishing maneuver from 2013 onwards. This move involved lifting an opponent into a backbreaker rack position and then dropping them forward onto her knee, specifically impacting their back.
- Rack Attack 2.0: A variation of the Rack Attack, executed as a fireman's carry cutter, where she would drop the opponent forward into a cutter-like motion.
- Fearless Lock: A submission hold identical to the STF, applying pressure to the opponent's face and leg.
- Spinebuster: A powerful takedown move, slamming the opponent onto their back.
- Spear: A tackle to the opponent's midsection.
- Alabama Slam: A move where she would lift the opponent by putting her head under their crotch, then quickly drop them forward.
- Dropkick: A standard dropkick.
4.3. Shared moves and gimmicks
Both sisters frequently utilized common wrestling techniques, but their most influential and iconic shared element was the "Twin Magic" gimmick.
- Bella Buster: A facebreaker or facebuster, similar to Sean Waltman's X-Factor, which served as a common finishing hold for both sisters.
- Twin Magic: This signature maneuver capitalized on their identical appearance. It involved one sister, typically the one not legally in the match or the one who had sustained damage, secretly switching places with her twin inside or outside the ring. When successful, it often led to a reversal of fortunes, allowing the fresher or less injured twin to secure an unexpected victory. However, if caught by the referee or an opponent, it often resulted in their undoing, leaving them vulnerable to defeat. This deceptive tactic became a hallmark of their early careers, especially in singles matches, and was a key part of their on-screen persona.
5. Other ventures
Beyond their professional wrestling careers, The Bella Twins have diversified into various entertainment, digital media, and entrepreneurial ventures, significantly expanding their cultural and business influence.
5.1. Television and film appearances
The Bella Twins have made numerous appearances across television and film, showcasing their versatility outside the wrestling ring. Before joining WWE, they appeared on the reality show Meet My Folks. They were also regulars on the VH1 show Best Week Ever and made a guest appearance on the MTV series Ridiculousness in October 2012. They also appeared in the music video for "Na Na" by Trey Songz in 2014, and "Hollywood" by Sophia Grace. In 2014, they guest-starred on the television series Psych in the episode "A Nightmare on State Street." They co-starred in the 2014 independent film Confessions of a Womanizer and provided voice performances for the 2015 animated movie The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!
Their most significant television presence stemmed from reality television. They were part of the main cast for the reality series Total Divas, which began airing in July 2013, appearing as main cast members for seasons 1-8 and guests in season 9. In April 2016, it was announced that Total Bellas, a spin-off of Total Divas starring the twins, would premiere in fall 2016, with them in lead roles until 2021. They also appeared as special guests on Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2017. Later appearances include The Substitute and The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2020, and a feature on Biography: WWE Legends in 2022.
In addition to their own shows, Nikki Bella served as a celebrity judge at the Miss USA 2013 pageant. Both twins presented the award for Best Female at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards. They were nominated for Choice Female Athlete at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards and won the award the following year at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards. Brie also appeared alongside Paige, Natalya, and the Chrisley family on the E! Countdown to the Red Carpet for the 88th Academy Awards in February 2016.
The Bella Twins have been featured in a total of twelve WWE video games, making their in-game debut in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. They have also appeared in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, WWE '12 (as DLC), WWE '13, WWE 2K14 (DLC), WWE 2K15, WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, WWE 2K18, WWE 2K19, WWE 2K20, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, and WWE 2K23. Animated versions of The Bella Twins were included in WWE Network's series Camp WWE.
5.2. Digital media and publications
The Bella Twins have established a significant presence in digital media and have ventured into publications. Both twins appeared on the WWE YouTube show The JBL & Cole Show. On November 21, 2016, Nikki and Brie launched their own YouTube channel, "Nikki And Brie," which features daily vlogs covering fashion, beauty, travel, fitness, relationships, and health. The channel became very successful, earning a YouTube Gold Creator Award in 2018 for reaching over 1 million subscribers. As of April 4, 2023, the channel has amassed 3.52 million subscribers and over 803.5 million views.
They have also collaborated with other YouTube personalities, appearing in iiSuperwomanii's video "When Someone Tries to Steal Your BFF" on March 2, 2017. On April 16, 2020, the twins were featured on the popular YouTube channel "First We Feast", participating in a Truth or Dab edition of Hot Ones. On March 27, 2019, Nikki and Brie launched their own podcast. In March 2020, the twins released their memoir titled Incomparable.
5.3. Business and lifestyle brands
The Bella Twins have leveraged their fame to launch a variety of successful business ventures and lifestyle brands, reflecting their entrepreneurial spirit and advocacy for women's health and empowerment. On August 21, 2017, they introduced their own wine label called Belle Radici, developed in collaboration with Hill Family Estates and Gauge Branding. Later that year, on November 1, 2017, Nikki and Brie launched Birdiebee, a lifestyle brand specializing in intimates and activewear. The brand's line includes transitional intimates, activewear, and loungewear, designed with the aim of "empowering and educating women through mirroring the twins' passion for life, strength, women's health and wellness, and fun."
On January 28, 2019, they expanded their business portfolio with the launch of Nicole + Brizee, a body and beauty line. On March 27, 2019, they further extended their media presence by launching their own podcast. In 2021, the twins launched another wine label, Bonita Bonita Wine. That same year, Nikki and Brie introduced their own baby gear collection in partnership with Colugo, and also announced their roles as investors and creative advisors for the company. These ventures underscore their commitment to entrepreneurship and their broader influence as lifestyle advocates.
6. Personal life
Outside of their professional careers, both Brie and Nikki Bella have built personal lives marked by significant relationships and family milestones.
Brie Bella is married to fellow professional wrestler Bryan Danielson, known as Daniel Bryan in WWE. They married in April 2014 in Sedona, Arizona. On May 9, 2017, Brie gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Birdie Joe Danielson.
Nikki Bella was famously in a long-term relationship with prominent WWE superstar John Cena. Their relationship was a significant storyline on Total Divas and Total Bellas, and they were engaged before ultimately calling off their wedding. Nikki later began a relationship with her Dancing with the Stars partner, Artem Chigvintsev.
In January 2020, both twins announced their pregnancies, with their due dates just a week and a half apart, leading to a unique shared experience. On July 31, Nikki gave birth to her first child, a son named Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev. Just 22 hours later, on August 1, Brie welcomed her second child, a son named Buddy Dessert Danielson.
Brie Bella stands at 66 in (168 cm). Nikki Bella is slightly taller at 67 in (170 cm) and weighs 123 lb (56 kg).
7. Championships and accomplishments
The Bella Twins have accumulated numerous championships and accolades throughout their careers, alongside critical recognition from various professional wrestling publications.
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked Brie Bella No. 12 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2015.
- PWI ranked Nikki Bella No. 1 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2015.
- Rolling Stone
- Rolling Stone named Nikki Bella as the Diva of the Year in 2015.
- Rolling Stone also named Nikki Bella as the Most Improved Wrestler in 2015.
- Teen Choice Awards
- Choice Female Athlete (2016)
- WrestleCrap
- Gooker Award (2014) - for their feud against each other (co-winner with Vince McMahon).
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Feud of the Year (2014) - Brie vs. Nikki.
- Worst Feud of the Year (2015) - Team PCB vs. Team B.A.D. vs. Team Bella.
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2013) - with Cameron, Eva Marie, JoJo, Naomi, and Natalya vs. AJ Lee, Aksana, Alicia Fox, Kaitlyn, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, and Tamina Snuka on November 24.
- WWE
- WWE Divas Championship (3 times total) - Brie Bella (1), Nikki Bella (2).
- Slammy Award (4 times):
- Couple of the Year (2013, 2014) - Brie Bella with Daniel Bryan.
- Diva of the Year (2013) - shared with each other.
- Diva of the Year (2015) - Nikki Bella.
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2020).
8. Bibliography
- Incomparable (2020)