Nikki Bella has never been one to hide from a camera or a conversation. Whether it’s her high-profile breakup with John Cena or the literal screws in her neck, she’s been an open book for the better part of two decades. But lately, the conversation has shifted toward something much more personal and, frankly, physically painful. If you’ve been following the headlines recently, you know that the "Fearless" one has been dealing with a pretty bizarre medical situation involving her chest.
It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about the reality of being a professional athlete with cosmetic enhancements.
The 2025 "Implant Scare" on Monday Night Raw
Most people think of breast implants as a "set it and forget it" kind of thing. For Nikki, that illusion shattered during a match on WWE’s Monday Night Raw in late July 2025. During a chaotic eight-person tag match, Piper Niven—a powerhouse known for her heavy-hitting style—landed a brutal elbow drop right on Nikki’s chest.
It wasn't a normal "sore the next day" kind of hit.
Nikki later hopped on The Nikki & Brie Show podcast to explain what happened. Basically, the impact was so localized and intense that it actually dislocated one of her implants. She described it as being "stuck in her ribs." That sounds like a nightmare. Imagine trying to breathe, cough, or laugh while a medical-grade silicone bag is wedged against your ribcage.
She spent her following days off in New York City not sightseeing, but getting her chest examined by specialists. It turns out, when you take a "front-bump" or a direct hit in wrestling, the capsule holding the implant can tear. In Nikki's case, the muscle—which she’s spent years toning—was actually the only thing keeping the implant from looking completely deformed to the naked eye.
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Why Nikki Bella Boobs are Trending Again: The "Go Bigger" Decision
You’d think after an injury like that, someone might want to just get the implants removed and call it a day. For a while, that was actually Nikki's plan. After giving birth to her son, Matteo, she admitted to feeling "done" with the high-maintenance look. She was tired. She felt like a "mom" and thought going smaller or even back to natural was the right move for her new life.
But then, 2026 rolled around, and her mindset shifted.
Honestly, she’s newly single after her split from Artem Chigvintsev, and she’s entering a new chapter of her life. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Nikki dropped a bit of a bombshell: she’s actually planning to go bigger when she gets the repair surgery.
"I think I was just tired at the time," she said, reflecting on her earlier desire to downsize. Now, she views the injury as a "perfect excuse" to get the look she actually wants. It’s a classic Nikki move—taking a setback and turning it into a rebranding opportunity.
The Complexity of "Gummy Bear" Implants in Sports
Wrestling isn't like other jobs. If you work in an office, your implants are safe. If you’re taking 15-foot falls and getting elbowed by 200-pound athletes, you’re playing a different game.
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- The Durability Factor: Modern silicone implants, often called "gummy bear" implants because they hold their shape even if the shell breaks, are tougher than the old-school versions.
- The Positioning: Most athletes, including Nikki, have implants placed "submuscularly" (under the pectoral muscle). This provides a layer of protection, but as Nikki found out, even a muscle can't stop a direct elbow drop from causing a "shift."
- The 10-Year Rule: Surgeons generally recommend replacing implants every decade. Nikki noted that during her last "redo," her doctor found her pec muscle was holding in a broken implant she didn't even know was ruptured.
It’s a gritty reality that most fans don't think about when they see the glamour of a WWE entrance. These women are quite literally risking their surgical results every time they step through the ropes.
Body Image, Motherhood, and the "Mom-Shame" Cycle
Nikki hasn't just talked about the surgery; she’s talked about the why behind it. In January 2026, she got incredibly candid about her struggles with postpartum body image. Even a WWE Hall of Famer looks in the mirror and sees things she doesn't like.
She admitted to "body shaming" her own stomach, a sentiment that resonated with millions of mothers. There is this weird duality in her life: she’s a sex symbol and a fitness icon, but she’s also a woman whose body has been "stretched and changed" by pregnancy.
By being open about her breast augmentation and her desire to change her look, she’s trying to dismantle the stigma that you have to choose between being a "natural mom" and a woman who enjoys cosmetic enhancement. She’s famously said, "I'm allowed to feel that about myself if I want."
It’s that "Bella Boldness" that has kept her relevant long after her full-time wrestling career ended. She doesn't want to be a "filtered" version of herself. If she feels like her chest needs an upgrade to make her feel confident as she navigates her 40s and a new divorce, she’s going to do it.
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What’s Next for Nikki’s "Girls"?
The surgery isn't happening tomorrow. Nikki is still active, still traveling, and still appearing on the "Red Brand" (Monday Night Raw) for various storylines. She mentioned that the minute the "boots are hung up" for good, she’s heading straight to the plastic surgeon to "make these girls look real good."
Until then, she’s managing the discomfort. She’s shown that even with a dislocated implant, she can still cut a promo and stay in the spotlight. It’s a testament to her toughness, even if some critics find the focus on her physical appearance superficial.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Cosmetic Conversations:
If you are looking into similar procedures or just following Nikki's journey, keep these points in mind:
- Understand the Lifespan: Implants are not lifetime devices. If you are active like Nikki, the "10-year rule" for checkups is non-negotiable to catch silent ruptures.
- Listen to Your Body: A "shift" or pain when coughing after a trauma (like a fall or a car accident) is a major red flag for implant displacement.
- Own Your Narrative: Like Nikki, the most empowered version of yourself is the one that makes decisions based on your confidence, not societal pressure to be "natural" or "perfect."
- Consult a Specialist: If you’re an athlete, ask about submuscular placement and "highly cohesive" silicone to minimize the risk of the "stuck in the ribs" scenario Nikki faced.
Nikki Bella’s journey with her body continues to evolve, proving that whether it's in a wrestling ring or a doctor's office, she’s the one calling the shots.