Nikki Bella has reflected on her subtle tribute to John Cena on WWE RAW, a moment that caught fans attention.
On WWE RAW on Netflix, Nikki Bella challenged Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship in a triple threat match that also included Raquel Rodriguez. The match ended with Vaquer retaining her title. After Rodriguez hit the Tejana Bomb on Nikki Bella. Vaquer quickly pulled Rodriguez out of the ring and pinned Nikki to retain her title.
While the title defense itself was a big moment, another spot during the match became an instant talking point. At one point, Nikki locked in the STF on Raquel Rodriguez, a move famously associated with John Cena.
The fans in the arena immediately reacted with loud “Thank you Cena” chants. Nikki fired back in the moment, shouting, “No. Thank me,” a line that drew laughs from fans.
Following the show, Nikki addressed the tribute on X, formerly known Twitter. She responded to fans who had been waiting for her to acknowledge Cena’s recent retirement.
She wrote, “You all kept wanting a tribute from me geeezz so here ya all go… but… that’s the Fearless Lock ??” The moment carried extra meaning given Nikki Bella and John Cena’s real-life history.
The two were in a highly publicized relationship from 2012 to 2018, which was also featured on WWE television. Their real-life romance later turned into an on-screen storyline in 2017. That angle saw them feud with The Miz and Maryse, which led to a mixed tag team match at WrestleMania 33.
After that match, Cena famously proposed to Nikki Bella in the ring. The pair became engaged in 2017 but eventually called off the wedding and split in 2018. With Cena recently hanging up his boots, Nikki’s in-ring tribute and her playful response afterward stood out as a fitting salute to his lasting legacy.
Check out what else happened on WWE RAW here.
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