Speculation regarding a massive return for Nikki Bella has reached a fever pitch after the WWE Hall of Famer was seemingly spotted on a flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Sharp-eyed fans noted that Nikki appeared in the background of an Instagram Stories post shared by WWE personality Jackie Redmond, who was documenting her journey to the Kingdom for this Saturday’s Royal Rumble.
Nikki has been absent from WWE television since the final Raw of 2025, where she unsuccessfully challenged for Stephanie Vaquer’s Women’s World Championship in a Triple Threat match. While she has not been officially announced for the 30-woman over-the-top-rope bout, her presence in Riyadh strongly suggests she will occupy one of the 15 remaining unannounced spots.
Triple H added further fuel to the fire during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on Wednesday morning. The WWE Chief Content Officer promised a night of high-level spectacle, stating:
“There’s a lot of surprises in store, but also it’s one of the most star-studded Rumbles that I can recall. Both of the matches are incredibly deep with talent.”
The current list of confirmed participants for the Women’s Royal Rumble already features a powerhouse lineup, including Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, and the highly anticipated Rumble debut of Giulia. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, WWE is intentionally holding back several names to maximize the “surprise” element of the broadcast.
As noted by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the inclusion of Nikki Bella would provide veteran star power to a match that already includes TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace and NXT’s Lash Legend. With the event scheduled for this Saturday, January 31, at the Kingdom Arena, the arrival of the “Bella Army” in Riyadh could be the first of many major shocks Triple H has prepared for the audience.
