Nikki Bella has provided an update on Brie Bella’s recovery from the scapula fracture that has kept the WWE Hall of Famer out of action since SummerSlam.
Brie was injured during the SummerSlam match in which she teamed with Nikki and Paige against Fatal Influence. The match ended in defeat for Brie’s side, and the Bellas later turned on Paige. However, the most significant development coming out of that night was Brie’s injury, which has created an uncertain timetable for her return to WWE competition.
Nikki explained that Brie elected not to have surgery, making the recovery process one that requires patience and continued monitoring rather than a quick target date. While Nikki stressed that her sister is doing well, she also made clear that the injury has been especially frustrating because of the limits it has placed on Brie’s normal training routine.
Brie Bella Is Awaiting Bone Healing Progress
The scapula, commonly known as the shoulder blade, plays a central role in shoulder movement and upper-body stability. For an active performer accustomed to strength work, conditioning and in-ring preparation, an injury in that area can affect far more than wrestling training alone.
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“It’s a slow process ’cause she didn’t have surgery,” Nikki said while discussing Brie’s condition. Nikki noted that the precise location of the fractures created uncertainty around the recovery and that the focus has been on allowing the bones to heal naturally.
Brie is currently attending physical therapy several days per week. Nikki said another X-ray is expected soon, which should offer a clearer indication of the healing growth and where Brie stands in the next stage of recovery. No specific WWE return date was given.
That absence of a firm timetable is notable. In professional wrestling, an announced return window can often depend on a number of factors beyond whether an athlete feels better day to day. Medical imaging, range of motion, strength, conditioning and the ability to take the physical demands of a match all matter. In Brie’s case, Nikki’s comments indicate that the immediate priority remains recovery rather than planning a rapid in-ring comeback.
Nikki also described the emotional challenge for her sister. Brie cannot work out in the way she normally would because of the scapula injury, a restriction that has made the process tougher. “She’s so frustrated,” Nikki said, explaining that the inability to train at all has been difficult for Brie to accept.
For a wrestler returning from a fracture, physical therapy can be as important mentally as it is physically. The routine creates progress, but it can also underline the distance between rehabilitation and full athletic activity. Nikki’s update suggests Brie is doing the necessary work, even if the process has moved more slowly than either sister would prefer.
A Difficult Year for the Bella Twins
Brie’s setback came after Nikki had already spent time on the sidelines earlier in the year because of an injury of her own. Nikki eventually returned, only for Brie to suffer the scapula fracture shortly afterward at SummerSlam.
The timing has been particularly unfortunate for the twins. Their appearances together carry natural significance because of their long history as a unit, both as performers and as one of the most recognizable pairings in WWE women’s division history. When one Bella is unable to compete, it changes the options available for any potential reunion, storyline or tag team direction.
There is still no indication that Brie’s recovery has suffered a setback. Nikki repeatedly emphasized that Brie is doing well and remains engaged in therapy. At the same time, Nikki’s explanation offers a realistic picture of why fans should not assume a return is imminent simply because Brie is progressing.
Recovering without surgery does not automatically mean a worse outcome, but it can place a premium on time and on confirming that the bone has healed sufficiently. Nikki’s comments centered on exactly that waiting process. The next X-ray may provide an important checkpoint, but it was not presented as a guaranteed clearance date or a promise that Brie will immediately resume wrestling activity.
Nikki Bella Downplays a Potential Singles Match
Beyond the injury update, Nikki addressed a question that has long interested fans: whether the Bella Twins could have another singles match against one another.
Nikki and Brie last wrestled each other more than a decade ago, in 2014. Their shared experience, natural familiarity and ability to play off one another have always made the concept intriguing. Nikki acknowledged that she would have welcomed more opportunities to wrestle Brie earlier in their careers, believing their chemistry could have produced strong matches.
But Nikki does not see a renewed one-on-one program as the preferred direction now. With both sisters having dealt with injuries and with each approaching what Nikki characterized as the end of their in-ring careers, she indicated that being together is more meaningful than being positioned against one another.
“After our injuries, I don’t think so,” Nikki said when discussing the possibility. “I just don’t think we’re so, like, at the end of our in-ring careers that I feel like it just has to be together at this point.”
That perspective puts the emphasis on the Bellas as a team rather than opponents. It also reflects how much has changed since their last singles meeting. A decade ago, a rivalry between the sisters could have been treated as a major personal conflict within WWE programming. Now, Nikki appears to view the remaining time they may have in the ring as something best spent alongside Brie.
There is no shortage of history to draw from if WWE eventually revisits the twins as a tandem. Their careers have included alliances, conflicts, championship pursuits and high-profile moments that made them central figures in a major era of the women’s division. Yet Nikki’s remarks suggest that any future plans remain secondary to Brie first getting fully healthy.
No Reason to Rush Brie Bella’s Return
For now, the clearest takeaway is straightforward: Brie Bella is recovering, attending physical therapy and waiting for further medical imaging to confirm how her scapula fracture is healing.
It would be premature to attach a return date to her status. Nikki did not offer one, and her description of the process makes clear why. The recovery is moving forward, but it is a slow one, shaped by Brie’s decision not to undergo surgery and by the limitations that come with a shoulder blade injury.
That means WWE fans will likely have to wait for further updates before there is clarity on when Brie can resume training, let alone return to a match. In the meantime, Nikki’s comments offer encouragement that Brie is doing well while also acknowledging the reality of her frustration.
If and when Brie is cleared, the Bellas’ future appears more likely to involve a shared direction than another chapter of their singles rivalry. Nikki’s preference is clear: rather than spend the closing portion of their wrestling careers fighting one another, she would rather stand beside her sister.
Until then, Brie’s health remains the priority. The next X-ray could reveal more about her progress, but the message from Nikki is that healing cannot be rushed. After a difficult year of injuries for both Bella Twins, a careful recovery is more important than a fast return.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.