Nikki Bella Reveals WWE Retirement Timeline After Latest Return from Injury

After making her return from an ankle injury on Friday's episode of SmackDown, WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella can see the end of her career on the horizon.

During Monday's episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Bella revealed that she expects to officially retire from pro wrestling at the end of next year.

"You know, I'm coming close to the end," Bella said (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News). "Like, and I know I've talked about this, but I am. Like, and I'm very great with that. Like, you know, year and a half, like whatever it is, the end of 2027."

Bella said she plans to push for creative ideas and storylines that she believes in, as she wants to spend the final chapter of her career doing the things that mean something to her.

"I really just want to finish this out exactly how I want it. I want, you know, if I got to break rules, I'm going to break rules. But I want to end it how I see it, so I don't look back and go, 'What if?'" Bella said. "Creatively, if I feel a certain way, I want to do it. I don't want to sit there and go, 'Oh, but follow the rules and be a good girl.' Like, I want to challenge myself. I want to fight for myself. I want to stick up for what I believe in."

Bella is set to team with her sister, Brie, and Paige in a six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence at the SummerSlam premium live event this weekend. She said she hopes to leave her mark by creating a better situation for women's wrestlers in WWE.

"I also want to be super impressive. And I want to produce great stuff as far as matches, but also creative. And I want to continue to be a part of great changes for women's wrestling and constantly making women's wrestling feel important and special," she said. "While I'm doing great things, bringing other people up with me to do great things. That right there is what it's all about. I don't just speak the talk of empowering women. I truly love to empower women. Whatever I can give while also being a bad b---h, I'm all game… I want it to be fun. Fun. Fun. All fun. Because that's what life's about."