Hall of Famer appears with CFP Championship belt on national stage
Summary
– Nikki Bella appeared at the Fiesta Bowl with a custom CFP Championship belt
– The appearance highlighted WWE and ESPN’s expanding partnership
– Fans received the first official reveal of the new title belt
Nikki Bella made a notable appearance Thursday night at the Fiesta Bowl, adding another high-profile moment outside the WWE ring. The former champion continues to represent WWE at major crossover events.
Bella appeared on the sideline during the College Football Playoff semifinal between the Miami Hurricanes and Ole Miss Rebels. She was featured with a custom College Football Playoff National Championship title belt, drawing attention throughout the broadcast.
The appearance served as a visible extension of WWE’s growing partnership with ESPN. Earlier that day, both companies confirmed plans to expand their collaboration into college football through new fan-driven activations.
As part of the initiative, WWE and ESPN announced a joint event scheduled for January 16 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The goal is to blend wrestling and college football audiences through interactive experiences.
The Fiesta Bowl also marked the first official on-air reveal of the championship belt. ESPN later confirmed that fans will have a chance to win the belt through an upcoming sweepstakes.
Bella’s presence comes during an active period following her WWE return in 2025. She made her in-ring comeback at the Women’s Royal Rumble and has been positioned as a veteran with unfinished business moving forward.
Nikki Bella with the ESPN CFP title belt 🔥
Watch Miami-Ole Miss at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN and the ESPN App 🍿 pic.twitter.com/qqxqBOLcoB
— espnW (@espnW) January 9, 2026
