Nikki Bella spent years ruling the WWE womens division, delivering high-impact moves and carrying championship gold. But while fans saw a dominant superstar, behind the scenes, her body was falling apart. She didnt realize just how much danger she was inuntil doctors told her she was one bad bump away from paralysis.
On The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki detailed the shocking diagnosis that nearly ended her career. I was slowly breaking my neck, and no one knew it, she revealed.
During her record-breaking 2015 WWE Divas Championship reign, Nikki started experiencing alarming symptoms. She would wake up unable to move her legs, her toes and feet completely numb. During matches, shed suddenly lose all strength in her arms, leaving her unable to perform moves shed done for years.
After months of pushing through the pain, she finally saw a doctoronly to receive devastating news. Scans revealed her C6-C7 vertebrae had shattered, putting severe pressure on her spinal cord.
It wasnt just a herniated discit was splattered, she explained. If I kept wrestling, I was risking paralysis or worse.
Doctors told her she needed immediate spinal fusion surgery, a procedure that could have ended her career permanently. But after seeking a second opinion, she met renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Juan Uribe, who presented an alternativean operation through the front of her neck, designed to restore spinal fluid flow and possibly allow her to wrestle again.
The surgery was a success, but her battle wasnt over. She spent six months in a neck brace, unable to train or even move her head properly. Many assumed her in-ring career was finished.
Then, in a shocking comeback, Nikki returned at SummerSlam 2016, proving that she wasnt done yet. Everyone told me I was done. But I refused to accept noand thats why I made it back.
Nikki Bellas story is a wild mix of pain, perseverance, and pure stubbornness. She went from one bad move away from paralysis to making an unforgettable comeback on one of WWEs biggest stages. While she eventually stepped away from the ring, her legacy as a fighterboth inside and outside of wrestlingremains undeniable. But was it worth the risk? Let us know what you think in the comments!
