WWE’s Bella of the Ball on ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’
WWE Superstar Nikki Bella is one of the contestants on the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” which premieres Season 25 on Monday, Sept. 18. She is the third WWE Superstar to vie for the Mirror Ball, joining Stacy Keibler and Chirs Jericho, but there are several other past contestants with pro wrestling ties, too.
WWE Superstar Nikki Bella continues to build her brand with projects away from the squared circle. Her latest endeavor requires another kind of footing as she is one of 13 contestants on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
DANCING WITH THE SUPERSTARS
This marks the third time a WWE Superstar will be part of the live weekly dance contest.
Stacy Keibler was very impressive, taking third in Season 2 in 2006.
Chris Jericho was solid, eliminated fifth in Season 12 in 2011.
Nikki Bella TBD.
PAST CONTESTANTS WRESTLING WITH THEIR STEPS
There are other athletes and entertainers who have competed on “Dancing with the Stars” that have pro wrestling ties.
Rapper Master P — who had a brief run in WCW in 1999, leading the No Limit Soldiers against the West Texas Rednecks — was eliminated fourth in Season 2 in 2006. #RapIsCrap
Television host Jerry Springer, who has appeared on WWE TV and WWE Network, was eliminated sixth in Season 3 in 2006.
Actor and stunt performer Steve O, who also appeared on WWE TV, was eliminated sixth in Season 8 in 2009.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather, who competed in WWE WrestleMania 24 in 2008, was eliminated fourth in Season 5 in 2007.
Actress and model Pamela Anderson, who escorted Diesel (Kevin Nash) to the ring at WrestleMania 11 in 1995, was eliminated sixth in Season 10 in 2010.
Actor David Arquette, who won the WCW world title in 2000 and appeared on WWE TV, was eliminated seventh in Season 13 in 2001.
Television host Maria Menounos, who wrestled at WWE WrestleMania 28 in 2012 and appeared several times on WWE TV, was eliminated ninth in Season 14 in 2012.
“Jersey Shore” star Snooki, who wrestled at WWE WrestleMania 27 in 2011, was eliminated fifth in Season 17 in 2013.
Television host, actor and comedian Drew Carey, a WWE Hall of Famer, was eliminated fourth in Season 18 in 2014.
Actress and businesswoman Marla Maples, who interviewed talent backstage at WrestleMania 7 in 1991, was eliminated third in Season 22 in 2016.
Actor and toughman Mr. T, who wrestled at WrestleMania 1 in 1985 and WrestleMania 2 in 1986 and WCW Starrcade in 1994 and is a WWE Hall of Famer, was eliminated third in Season 24 in 2017.
BELLA OF THE BALL
Of Mexican and Italian decent, Nikki, 33, is paired with Artem Chigvintsev, a Russian-American professional dancer, who specializes in Latin dance.
This is Artem’s sixth appearance on the show, reaching the quarterfinals with actress Lea Thompson in Season 19 in 2014.
YOU CAN DO IT
Nikki is 12-1 odds to win “Dancing with the Stars.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Nikki is the twin sister of WWE Superstar Brie Bella; sister-in-law to WWE SmackDown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan; step-daughter to WWE Associate John Laurinaitis; and future wife of WWE Superstar John Cena.
BELLA VS. CENA
“Dancing with the Stars” goes head-to-head against WWE Raw (8-11 p.m. Mondays USA Network). Nikki’s fiance, John Cena, is a featured superstar on Raw.
The premiere for the 25th version of “Dancing with the Stars” is Monday, Sept. 18 from 8-10 p.m. live on ABC.
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TOTAL NIKKI
Nikki was most recently part of the WWE SmackDown Live brand (8 p.m. Tuesdays USA Network), and she also stars in “Total Bellas” and “Total Divas” on E!.