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Bill Simmons found himself in the internet spotlight during WWE’s Netflix debut of Raw at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Ringer founder was seated next to WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella, now Nikki Garcia, who stole the show with her playful dancing — leaving Simmons blushing in the background.
Nikki Bella’s Show-Stealing Moves
Bella, dressed to impress in a striking red leather outfit, was captured on camera standing up and performing a sultry dance move reminiscent of her iconic WWE entrance with her twin sister, Brie Bella. The 41-year-old, known for her larger-than-life personality, brought her signature energy to the front row.
As Bella swayed and poked out her booty, Simmons’ reaction became the real viral moment. The sports media mogul was caught smirking before quickly turning his attention back to the ring, visibly trying to play it cool amid the lively spectacle.
Social Media Has a Field Day
It didn’t take long for fans to turn Simmons’ reaction into a meme.
“Bill Simmons fighting for his life,” one user quipped. “He’s more locked in on a match than we’ve ever seen,” another joked, referencing Simmons’ often intense demeanor when discussing sports.
The now-viral clip added an unexpected dose of humor to an already star-studded night.
Bella’s Return to the Spotlight
The event marked Nikki Bella’s first major public appearance since finalizing her divorce from professional ballroom dancer Artem Chigvintsev in November. Bella seemed to be in high spirits, bringing her trademark flair to WWE’s historic partnership with Netflix.
Simmons’ Celtics Troll
Simmons, a diehard Boston Celtics fan, couldn’t resist trolling the home crowd of Clippers fans. The WWE X (formerly Twitter) account posted a photo of Simmons holding up a Celtics logo on his phone while giving a thumbs-up gesture, a cheeky nod to his hometown team in the heart of Clippers territory.
A Star-Studded Event
The Netflix debut of Raw drew a host of A-list celebrities and WWE legends. Among the notable names in attendance were Travis Scott, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ashton Kutcher, Michael Che, and Danielle Fishel.
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Simmons’ Unexpected WWE Moment
While Simmons may have attended Raw to enjoy the action in the ring, his viral moment with Bella stole the show online. Known for his sharp takes on sports and pop culture, Simmons now finds himself on the other side of the meme treatment, proving that even the biggest personalities can get caught up in the spectacle of WWE.
For fans of wrestling, sports, and pop culture, the moment encapsulated everything the WWE-Network-Netflix collaboration promised: star power, entertainment, and a little unexpected humor.
