Bella Twins Bury WWE For Booking Of Women; Rumored To Be Nixed From Raw 30 Segment

WWE Raw recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, but not everybody is in a celebratory mood. The Bella Twins took to IG live following the show and Brie and Nikki Bella did not pull their punches while criticizing WWE Raw 30, namely WWE’s booking of the women’s division.

“How do they showcase anything from the women’s evolution?” Nikki Bella asked sarcastically. “Because Sasha Banks is in it, and they’re like ‘we can’t.’”

“And the Bellas—there’s a bunch of us—and a couple of other girls and Saraya (Paige), there’s a bunch of us they don’t want to show,” added Brie Bella.

“Mercedes (Sasha Banks) is too over, and we can’t say her name,” quipped Nikki.

Sasha Banks left WWE in dramatic fashion alongside Naomi last year, while Saraya now competes for AEW. The Bella Twins were reportedly near the area of Raw’s 30th anniversary at Lincoln Financial Field, and were previously advertised to appear on Raw 30. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that he was under the impression that although the Bellas were near the area, “they didn’t like what they were going to do, so they didn’t go to the show.”

The Bella Twins’ criticism of WWE’s women’s division comes on a night where the opening segment—a last-minute trial of Sami Zayn—went well over 30 minutes during a commercial-free first hour. The segment going long caused the women’s Steel Cage match between Bayley and Becky Lynch to be cut short. Women’s wrestling was not emphasized through most cameos and segments on Raw 30.

Raw featured appearances by Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair and WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze, however representation and nostalgia for women on the show was few and far between. As of this writing, there are only seven women advertised to appear at the WWE Royal Rumble compared to 15 for the men.

Sasha Banks, now known as Mercedes Mone, recently made her return to pro wrestling at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14. Mone was heavily rumored to appear on AEW Dynamite in Inglewood On January 11, and when she didn’t, backlash ensued among the fanbase as “No Mercedes” was trending. Banks will remain an outside shot to appear at the Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant, but with a looming NJPW date at Battle in the Valley on February 18, a Royal Rumble appearance feels like a long shot.

Given the plethora of spots currently open for the women’s Royal Rumble, perhaps WWE was saving its women’s legends for surprise appearances this Saturday. As it stands right now, the Bella Twins’ frustration with the company is valid.