WWE supporters were taken aback this week when a planned segment featuring Paige failed to appear on SmackDown.
The former Divas Champion had been slated to appear on the program, but the segment was removed before the broadcast commenced.
According to Pwinsider, the removal was attributed to logistical considerations rather than any alteration in storyline direction. WWE subsequently published a digital‑only video featuring Paige, wherein she addressed the matter directly and responded to remarks made by Nikki Bella.
The dispute escalated after Nikki mocked Paige on social media, questioning what Paige had said given the segment’s omission. Paige retorted, asserting that Nikki ought to advocate for increased television time for women rather than being excluded from the show, and she pledged that the two would meet again the following week.
This development follows tension that emerged earlier in the month, when Nikki and Brie Bella turned on Paige following her loss to Fatal Influence at SummerSlam 2026. While Brie remains sidelined due to injury, Nikki’s feud with Paige appears to be intensifying.