Nikki and Brie Bella have removed all associations with WWE.
Now going by the names of Nikki and Brie Garcia, the WWE Hall of Famers recently issued a statement about their future as individuals and their brands.
A clip was posted to the twins’ social media, introducing their new names and stating that this will be the next chapter in their lives.
In the first episode of the rebranded podcast, now referred to as The Nikki & Brie Show, the former WWE Superstars explained their reason for the name change as what is next:
“Our listeners and everyone in the world right now is asking why? Why, you had this amazing name that you got from your grandfather Pop-Pop who’d always call us ‘my bellas, my bellas.’ And so why after 17 years is that gone?
“Brie and I, almost 40, we’re going to be 40 in November. We’re mothers, we’re entrepreneurs, we’re executive producers, we’re starring, now we’re hosting shows, winemakers, and when our contracts came up with WWE, mutually we all knew like, we just needed to head into this new chapter.”
While the statement confirms that any future interactions with WWE appear to be not taking place in the near future, both Brie and Nikki would thank their WWE aliases.
“I just want to thank Brie Bella. Brie Bella, the character, the name, all of it that I have been the last, you know, pretty much the last, I don’t know, 16 or 17 years. I’m so excited to close that chapter on Brie Bella, put that book to the side, and open up a new one, and see what Brie Garcia is gonna do next.”
“And I am so beyond grateful for Nikki Bella, Nikki Bella whoa, she empowered me, she inspired me, she truly made me become fearless. And the road that she has paved and what she has done for women and the youth and will continue to do, just as Nikki Garcia.”
The Bella Twins debuted onscreen for WWE in 2008, winning multiple championships and becoming two of the most recognisable names to the outside entertainment world. The Hall of Famers would transition from the ring to reality TV, being heavily featured in the Total Divas Series and getting their own spinoff show, Total Bellas.
H/t to Inside The Ropes for the use of transcriptions.
Featured image: Variety
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