Nikki Bella Brings the Heat to Monday Night Raw, Torches Lions Fans Amidst Cooper DeJean Romance Rumors
If you had “WWE Hall of Famer trolling Detroit Lions fans to defend her rumored 22-year-old NFL boyfriend” on your 2025 Bingo card, congratulations—you are officially a prophet. For the rest of us, we’re just trying to keep up with the absolutely chaotic timeline that is the current life of Nikki Bella.
The former Divas Champion returned to the ring on Monday Night Raw at the Van Andel Arena in Michigan, and let’s just say she wasn’t interested in playing the nostalgia act. instead of the usual “it’s great to be back” pleasantries, Bella decided to choose violence. And by violence, I mean emotionally devastating a stadium full of Lions fans by reminding them that the Philadelphia Eagles—and specifically one Cooper DeJean—are living rent-free in her head.
Bella Goes Full Heel on The Motor City
There is a time-honored tradition in professional wrestling known as “cheap heat.” You walk out, you insult the local sports team, and the crowd boos. Simple, effective, classic. But Bella didn’t just insult the team; she made it personal.
Taking the mic, Nikki leaned into her accolades, reminding everyone that she is a Hall of Famer and a champion. “This is what champions look like, do you got that?” she asked, before delivering the dagger. “But you know what? I mean, how would you people know what champions look like? I mean, you root for the Lions.”
Ouch. But she wasn’t done. She twisted the knife by bringing up the Philadelphia Eagles, the team currently employing her rumored beau, Cooper DeJean. “The Lions wish they were as good as the Philadelphia Eagles, am I right? Oh wait, better yet, Ohio State.”
For those connecting the dots, DeJean isn’t just an Eagles cornerback; he’s an Iowa Hawkeye alum. But dropping the Eagles reference in Michigan? That was a deliberate nod to the rumor mill that has been churning out headlines for weeks. It’s almost impressive how seamlessly she blended real-life tabloid drama with kayfabe storytelling. You have to respect the hustle.
The Locker Room Picture That Sparked the Fire
Let’s rewind a bit, because this promo didn’t come out of nowhere. The internet has been in detective mode ever since Bella was spotted at Lincoln Financial Field. We aren’t talking about a casual celebrity appearance in a luxury box, either.
The rumors went from “maybe” to “definitely” when Nikki posted a photo of herself posing directly in front of DeJean’s locker. If that wasn’t loud enough for the people in the back, DeJean commented on the post with an eagle emoji and a heart. It’s the modern-day equivalent of wearing his varsity jacket.
The age gap has certainly raised some eyebrows—Bella is 42 and DeJean is 22—but if there is one thing we know about the Bella twins, it’s that they know how to keep people talking. This locker room “soft launch” was calculated, and her promo on Raw was the official confirmation that she is riding with the Eagles (and DeJean) for the long haul.
That “Five Knuckle Shuffle” Celebration
To make matters even more bizarrely entertaining, we have to talk about Cooper DeJean’s on-field antics. During a Week 16 win against the Washington Commanders, DeJean snagged an interception. His celebration of choice? The “Five Knuckle Shuffle.”
Yes, that Five Knuckle Shuffle. The signature move of John Cena. You know, Nikki Bella’s ex-fiancé.
The internet immediately exploded. Was this a dig at Cena? Was it a weird power move? Was he asserting dominance? According to DeJean, everyone needs to calm down. He claimed in a post-game interview that it was just a tribute to a legend he grew up watching.
“The celebration, just a tribute to John Cena,” DeJean told reporters. “The guy I watched growing up. Big WWE guy when I was a kid. So yeah, we had one planned for a while.”
Look, I want to believe him. I really do. But doing your new girlfriend’s famous ex’s signature taunt immediately after intercepting a ball is a level of chaotic energy that is hard to ignore. Whether it was innocent reverence or a cheeky little jab, it adds another layer of hilarity to this entire saga.
What’s Next for the Power Couple?
We are now living in a world where NFL Sundays and Monday Night Raw are intersecting in the weirdest way possible. Bella seems to be fully embracing her role as the villainous WAG, willing to trash entire NFL franchises to hype up her man.
As for the Detroit Lions fans in attendance? They got a front-row seat to the Nikki Bella show, and unfortunately for them, they were the punchline. With the Eagles sitting pretty at 10-5 and DeJean playing well, we can probably expect more of this crossover content. If the Eagles make a deep playoff run, expect Nikki to be ringside—or sideline—making sure everyone knows exactly who she’s rooting for.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if Jared Goff responds. (Spoiler: He probably won’t, but it would be a lot cooler if he did).
