The Bella Twins Turn Heel, But Brie Bella Appears Injured at WWE SummerSlam

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The Bella Twins Turn Heel, But Brie Bella Appears Injured at WWE SummerSlam

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steven Harrison | Last updated Aug 1, 2026 7:47 PM ET

The Bella Twins' long-awaited reunion took an unexpected turn at WWE SummerSlam, as the duo appeared to complete a heel turn immediately after their loss to Fatal Influence. However, the bigger story may have been what happened to Brie Bella during the closing moments of the segment.

Competing together for the first time since Nikki Bella's injury before WrestleMania, The Bella Twins teamed with Paige in a six-woman tag team match against Fatal Influence. The reunion marked the payoff to months of anticipation after Paige stepped in as Nikki's replacement earlier this year.

Instead of celebrating a successful return, the trio came up short, with Fatal Influence picking up the victory.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 1: Brie Bella, Paige, and Nikki Bella look on during SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 1, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images)Getty Images

Brie Bella Appears Hurt During Post-Match Heel Turn

After the match, Nikki Bella appeared visibly frustrated and suddenly attacked Paige, officially signaling a heel turn for the Bella Twins.

OH MY GOD @NikkiAndBrie have TURNED on Paige! pic.twitter.com/DXKlQlrRHL
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Brie Bella, however, did not appear to be fully involved in the angle.

The Bella Twins turn on Paige after suffering a loss to Fatal Influence.

Seemingly, Brie Bella is legit hurt as she held her right shoulder for the majority of the match as well as post-match angle.

Hopefully nothing too serious #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/wIP8ZWhhlm
— PW Chronicle (@_PWChronicle) August 1, 2026

Rather than aggressively joining the attack, Brie delivered just a single kick to Paige before repeatedly grabbing her right shoulder. Throughout the segment, she continued clutching the shoulder and wore an expression of obvious discomfort rather than the smug or angry demeanor typically associated with a heel turn.

From the broadcast alone, it was impossible to know whether the injury was legitimate or part of the storyline, but Brie clearly looked limited during the closing moments.

If the injury is real, it immediately creates uncertainty around WWE's plans for the reunited Bella Twins. The angle was seemingly designed to launch a program with Paige following their first match back together, making the timing particularly unfortunate.

Brie Bella seemed to have suffered a legit injury to her right shoulder during the match against Fatal Influence.

It possibly happened on the steel stairs spot with Jacy Jayne — as Brie held her shoulder for the rest of the match/post-match.

Hoping for the best #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/0D4kCb9n6z
— PW Chronicle (@_PWChronicle) August 1, 2026

The irony is difficult to ignore: Nikki Bella finally returned to action after the injury that originally forced Paige into the story, only for Brie Bella to appear hurt during the trio's very first match together.

How to Watch WWE SummerSlam

Night 1 of WWE SummerSlam continues live on ESPN Unlimited. Fans can stream the event through the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited or by authenticating with participating TV providers, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and other eligible services.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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