Eva Marie Says Fellow WWE Stars Nikki & Brie Bella Are ‘Staples’ In Wrestling: They’re ‘Fantastic’

“I think what they have done is fantastic,” she EXCLUSIVELY told us. “You know, they’ve taken their brand and they’ve been able to incorporate that into businesses and things of that nature as well as, you know, become Hall of Famers and it’s great. Obviously, our journeys are very different, you know, I went kind of the TV and Film route, and I don’t have any children.”

“I have a lot of dogs,” she added while laughing. “So, that’s the difference. But you know they’re definitely a staple when you think of the WWE brand for sure.”

Nikki and Brie signed with WWE in 2007 and formed the duo The Bella Twins. They are both former WWE Divas Champions, with Nikki being the longest-reigning holder of the title, and were inducted into the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame class. They have also had many other impressive recognitions, which includes being ranked ranked No. 1 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated‘s Female 50, and are now currently retired.

The twins gained even more popularity with their E! reality series, Total Bellas, which first premiered in 2016. Since then, they’ve welcomed three babies total, including Brie’s first child, Birdie, and second child, Buddy, who she shares with her WWE pro wrestler husband Brian Danielson, and Nikki’s first child, Matteo, whom she shares with fiance Artem Chigvintsev. They’ve also participated in numerous opportunities outside the wrestling world, including competing on Dancing with the Stars.

Eva, who used to be the manager of the Bella twins, can relate to stepping in the spotlight outside the ring. After leaving the WWE in 2017, she worked as an actress and made her film debut in 2017’s Inconceivable. She went on to work on other projects, including appearing on television series and launching a fitness program called NEM FIT, and then signed another contract with WWE in 2020. When asked how she feels about returning to Monday Night Raw with live fans on July 19, the Total Divas star said she’s ready, and since she’s known as a wrestler some love to hate, she’s not afraid of being booed.

“There is nothing like performing and walking into our upcoming tours that start July 16th with SmackDown out in Texas and Monday Night Raw in Dallas,” she explained.  “I just moved there so I feel like it is a little bit of my hometown now, but to walk out there and embrace the fans… actually I hope they boo. I hope they boo me out of the building. Every movie and every show or book, you always need a good villain and I’m okay wearing that hat. Coming back I think the WWE Universe has no problem making me that villain either.”