Nikki Bella Targets End Of 2027 For In-Ring Retirement

Nikki Bella has set a timeline for stepping away from professional wrestling, revealing on an episode of The Nikki & Brie Show back in July that she intends to retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2027. It’s the clearest marker yet for when the Bella Twins’ latest run in WWE might come to a close, though it remains unclear whether her twin sister Brie plans to walk away on the same schedule.

The timeline adds context to what’s already been a bumpy second act for the Bellas. Both women initially retired in 2019, only to make one-off appearances in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Nikki returned to full-time competition afterward, with Brie following at the 2026 Royal Rumble. Since reuniting under WWE contracts in January, the duo has dealt with a string of injury setbacks that have limited their in-ring time, making Nikki’s stated 2027 target feel less like a distant plan and more like a realistic finish line.

Nikki’s comments arrive amid a broader wave of retirements that has reshaped WWE’s veteran landscape. Goldberg, John Cena, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar have all walked away from in-ring competition within roughly the last 13 months, closing the book on four multi-time world champions in short order. With that cluster of farewells now behind the company, attention naturally turns to which established names might be next to follow — and the Bellas are a logical candidate given both the injuries and Nikki’s own words.

They’re not the only long-tenured stars whose in-ring futures are worth watching heading into 2027. Rey Mysterio, now doing double duty as AAA’s on-screen General Manager at 51 years old, has shown zero signs of slowing down physically — he recently took a chokeslam through a table from Omos at Triplemanía 34 and turned in a well-regarded Intercontinental Championship match against Chad Gable in August. Still, given his age and mileage, speculation persists that a program building toward a farewell match against his son Dominik Mysterio could eventually materialize, whether at a future WrestleMania or a coming Triplemanía. Asuka’s situation is different but no less notable: since bidding an emotional on-air goodbye to IYO SKY the night after WWE Backlash in May, she has stayed away from WWE television, having explained on her YouTube channel that her appearances would become “rare” due to a personal matter she discussed with the company. She hasn’t retired outright, leaving open the possibility of a return for a proper send-off down the line.

None of this amounts to confirmed退休 plans beyond Nikki Bella’s own statement, but it underscores how WWE’s veteran core keeps thinning out. As the promotion leans further into its younger stars, 2027 is shaping up as a year where more farewells — expected or otherwise — could hit the roster. Whether the Bellas, Mysterio or Asuka are among them remains to be seen, but it’s a storyline worth tracking as the calendar turns.