Nikki Bella popped back into the ring in 2025 with the grit of a WWE legend—but nothing could prepare her for the kind of body blow she received last week. During an eight‑woman tag match on Monday Night Raw (July 28), fellow wrestler Piper Niven’s elbow drop sent shockwaves—not just around the ring, but into Nikki’s breast implant, allegedly pushing it into her ribs.
Yes, you read that right: a boob implant stuck between bone and soft tissue—WWE meets botched surgery.
The Injury That Stung Inside and Out
On her Nikki & Brie Show podcast, Nikki revealed Brie turned to her mid-show and asked, “Your implant OK? I think it’s stuck in your ribs.” True to form, Nikki joked, “I think it is.” The elbow impact reportedly displaced the implant during the match. She continued the fight in pain, finished the match, and later travelled to New York to see a plastic surgeon.
Medical evaluation confirmed the implant had shifted. Nikki described the discomfort: “It’s been hard to laugh and cough,” but tried to ease concern with humor: “We’re going to get it fixed one day.”
Divorce Remarks and Future Finesse
Following her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev in September 2024—months after his arrest for domestic violence—Nikki said she’s now “newly divorced” and plans to revisit the doctor once she hangs up her boots. She quipped, “We’re gonna make these girls look real good… because these girls are gonna get some action in the future and that can’t look like that.”
Whether it was pride or bravado, Nikki’s tone combined athleticism and sass—even after admitting she’d been talking about her implant injury before Brie aired it live.
The Match That Hurts and Wins
Despite the pain, Nikki gushed about the match afterwards: “I had a great time…I didn’t want it to end.” The match featured top-tier competitors: Naomi, Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Stephanie Vaquer, and others. WWE insiders say the elbow drop looked gruesome live and had peers whispering backstage about the severity of the blow.
It’s an unexpected setback from her official return earlier this year—the first time she stepped into the ring since retiring after neck injuries and brain surgery in 2022.
Public Shock, Sports Press, and Meme Renaissance
The story exploded across tabloids. Page Six and People ran headline-friendly versions, while Yahoo Sports focused on surgical follow-up and her resilience. On X, fans joked: “Send well‑wishes to her fake boob.” Reddit threads mixed sympathy with ribbing over WWE’s extreme physicality.
From VPN warnings to witticisms about WWE safety gear, public fascination framed Nikki’s ordeal as both cautionary and classically elbows-over-knees wrestling drama.
Why It Resonates Beyond WWE
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Cosmetic surgery in extreme sport – The story highlights risks beyond the ring—where glamour meets mechanics.
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Body image and recovery after chaos – Nikki’s handling of injury, divorce, and body changes merges vulnerability with agency.
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Transparency in celebrity health—unfiltered – A wounded athlete risking PR backlash rather than hiding pain.
Even opponents were impressed—Piper Niven reportedly expressed concern backstage, stating no one expected such an impact. WWE reportedly offered medical coverage and monitoring.
Final Thoughts: Pain, Perseverance, and Pop Culture
Nikki’s implant ordeal may become one of WWE’s most unexpected viral moments—the kind where a body part becomes public property overnight. But in classic Nikki fashion, she still wrestled, still joked, and still promised a fix once the arena lights dim.
So: her ring career isn’t over. Her pain is still in flux. And her confidence? Still intact—implant or not.