So, about that talk …
Nikki Bella and John Cena’s cliffhanger encounter from the midseason finale of E!’s “Total Divas” ends with something of a tentative breakup between the two in the opening minutes of the midseason premiere. Interesting to note that Cena doesn’t acknowledge it was a sit-down with Brie Bella that prompted him to cut Nikki loose. The Champ’s willingness to fall on his sword leaves Brie wracked with guilt, and while she initially refuses to cop to provoking the breakup, Mama Bella demands that Brie lay her cards on the table and give her sister the whole truth. Predictably, this plan fails horribly: Nikki chews out her entire family, which leads to a spectacular shouting match and bad blood between the sisters … which actually turns out to be exactly when Nikki turns on Brie at SummerSlam and feeds her to Stephanie McMahon in the ring.
Watch: Latest "Total Divas" highlights | Midseason premiere photos!
In other news, the midseason premiere also introduces one half of the cast’s new dynamic duo, the troublemaking British Diva Paige. Already a divisive presence in the Divas locker room thanks to her hyperspeed rise to the Divas Championship, Paige goes about causing a ruckus almost instantly by playing a prank on Natalya. It goes so fantastically awry that it leads Natalya to fake a car accident to avoid its repercussions. The fallout is so instantaneous and absolute that even the ultimate peace offering — a gift for Natalya’s cats — can’t smooth things over, and by the end of the episode, Natalya has found herself a brand-new enemy to carry her through the remainder of the season. Welcome back, everybody.
“Total Divas” returns to its regular scheduled time – 9/8 CT – next Sunday on E!.