The wrestling world is still reeling from one of the most explosive moments on WWE RAW in recent memory. Nikki Bella, the legendary former Divas Champion and multi-time Women’s Champion, made a shocking return to in-ring action on November 10, 2025, when she brutally attacked Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer immediately following Vaquer’s hard-fought title defense against Raquel Rodriguez. The attack left fans stunned, with the former Total Divas star battering the champion with the coveted Women’s World Title, signaling what could be the beginning of a major championship program heading into WWE’s final stretch of 2025.
The Attack That Changed Everything
The scene was set perfectly on Monday Night RAW when Stephanie Vaquer successfully retained her Women’s World Championship against the dangerous challenger Raquel Rodriguez. As confetti fell and the champion celebrated her victory, no one anticipated what was about to transpire. That’s when Nikki Bella emerged from the crowd with a singular purpose: to make a statement.[1] The attack was vicious and calculated, with Bella delivering a devastating assault using the Women’s World Title as her weapon of choice. This wasn’t a botched interference or a coincidental encounter this was a deliberate statement of intent from someone who clearly has unfinished business in WWE’s women’s division.
The timing of Bella’s return raises intriguing questions about WWE’s long-term booking plans for the championship picture. With Vaquer positioned as one of the promotion’s top female competitors, the positioning of Nikki as a challenger immediately thrusts both women into a compelling narrative that could dominate RAW programming for weeks to come.
Nikki Bella’s Shocking Heel Turn
What made this moment even more significant was the obvious character shift. Nikki Bella, who has largely been positioned as a fan-favorite during her previous WWE tenure, fully embraced a heel persona during this attack.[2] The ruthlessness of the assault and the calculated nature of the ambush painted a clear picture: Nikki is no longer the smiling, charismatic superstar fans knew from her reality television crossovers. Instead, she’s arrived with a singular purpose and a dangerous edge that suggests WWE creative has major plans for her character development moving forward.
This heel turn represents a fascinating departure from Bella’s previous characterization and could provide the perfect vehicle for a compelling Women’s World Championship program. Wrestling fans have long appreciated the depth that veteran performers can bring to their craft, and Nikki’s willingness to embrace a darker persona demonstrates her commitment to telling meaningful stories in the squared circle.
Behind-the-Scenes Speculation
According to a WWE insider with knowledge of internal creative discussions, the company has been developing this angle for several weeks. “There’s been a lot of talk about bringing Nikki back in a significant way,” the source explained. “Management felt that having her immediately challenge for the Women’s World Title would create immediate interest and provide Stephanie Vaquer with a heavyweight opponent who brings credibility and star power to the championship.”
The decision to position Nikki as a challenger to Vaquer wasn’t made lightly. WWE’s creative team recognizes that Bella remains one of the most recognizable female performers in the company’s history, and repositioning her as a focused, dangerous competitor seeking championship gold could reignite fan interest in the Women’s World Championship picture during the critical final months of the year.
The Road to Championship Gold
What are Nikki’s specific WWE plans following the attack on Vaquer? While WWE hasn’t officially announced a championship match between the two competitors, all signs point toward a significant program developing between these two performers. Industry observers expect that WWE will capitalize on this storyline momentum by booking a championship encounter in the coming weeks, potentially on one of WWE’s premium live events.
The women’s division has been consistently strong throughout 2025, and adding Nikki Bella back into active competition at the championship level provides fresh matchup opportunities and compelling narrative possibilities. Whether this program culminates at Survivor Series or another premium live event remains to be seen, but the groundwork has clearly been laid for a major title program to develop.
Nikki’s return also suggests that WWE sees long-term value in having her compete beyond this initial angle. A successful championship run or extended program with Vaquer could lead to additional high-profile matchups against other members of the women’s roster, potentially setting up elimination matches, multi-person matches, or other exciting opportunities that could keep the division feeling fresh and unpredictable.
Implications for the Women’s World Championship
Stephanie Vaquer, who has proven herself as a worthy champion, now faces one of the biggest challenges of her title reign. Nikki Bella brings veteran experience, mainstream celebrity recognition, and a clearly defined sense of purpose to their impending program. For Vaquer, successfully defending against such a high-profile challenger could further cement her status as one of WWE’s most important female performers.
The Women’s World Championship has been a focal point of WWE RAW programming, and the addition of Nikki as a challenger elevates the prestige of the title even further. This matchup represents exactly the type of compelling personal rivalry that drives viewership and generates authentic fan interest.
Looking Forward
As WWE fans anticipate what’s next for both Nikki Bella and Stephanie Vaquer, one thing is certain: the landscape of the women’s division has fundamentally shifted. Nikki’s shocking return and vicious attack on the champion have injected new energy into the championship picture and have created immediate compelling television that viewers will want to follow on subsequent episodes of RAW.
Whether this program results in a championship victory for Nikki, an extended rivalry between the two competitors, or opens the door for additional opportunities for the returning superstar, WWE has successfully accomplished its initial goal: capturing the attention of fans and creating an undeniable sense of urgency and intrigue heading into the final weeks of 2025. The question now isn’t whether fans are interested in seeing more—it’s simply when WWE will officially pull the trigger on their next encounter.