WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia’s appearance at SummerSlam 2016 was a surprise to the fans at the event, as well as the women in the ring.

Garcia, who competed as Nikki Bella in WWE, was part of a six-women tag-team match that saw herself, Natalya, and Alexa Bliss defeat Naomi, Carmella, and Becky Lynch.

On a recent edition of her “Nikki and Brie Show” podcast, Garcia discussed being brought into the match as a surprise. She said,

“[SummerSlam 2016 return] was nerve-racking because they literally did not want them to know I was there till — was it two matches before? It’s SummerSlam in Brooklyn…’ I remember just sitting on the bus and being like, ‘I just got back from neck surgery.’ I hadn’t even had a practice match. We all know why I got put in that position, which I was so grateful for, when someone failed their test and they called me, they go, ‘Hey, can you actually be ready in six days?’ And I was like, ‘Sure.’”

Carmella, who was also on the podcast, added that in efforts to keep Garcia’s return a surprise from the rest of the roster, they trained in secret. She said,

“I had to go and take your finisher in the garage at Barclays. They just put a crash pad out by the trucks and they’re like, ‘Okay’ and we had never touched before so we were like, ‘Alright, but you need to take her finish.’ I’m like, ‘Okay’ and they’re like, ‘Okay, now go.’’

Garcia hasn’t competed since the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match. She and her sister Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the previous year.