WWE doesn’t appear to be particularly concerned about the criticism surrounding Nikki Bella and Chelsea Green’s WWE Women’s Championship match on the October 30 episode of SmackDown.

Despite the negative reactions from viewers, a new backstage report suggests that the company has already moved on from the controversy.

The match attracted considerable criticism online, with fans questioning the in-ring chemistry, overall execution, and finishing sequence.

However, WWE’s internal reaction reportedly reflects a different way of measuring the value of its performers.

WWE’s reported internal response to the backlash over Nikki Bella vs. Chelsea Green

During a recent Q&A session, WrestleVotes was asked whether WWE officials had discussed the negative response to Bella and Green’s championship encounter. The outlet indicated that the company wasn’t dwelling on the criticism.

“They moved on,” WrestleVotes stated, explaining that WWE doesn’t judge performers such as Bella solely on their ability to deliver highly rated wrestling matches.

The report also highlighted the importance of popularity outside the ring, particularly when it comes to merchandise sales and social media engagement.

“The people who buy Nikki Bella’s merchandise do not care if she’s having great matches — similar to Chelsea Green. They do her dances, they like the Instagram. That’s what they’re there for,” WrestleVotes explained.

The online criticism followed a finish that left several viewers unhappy. Bella appeared close to securing the championship with her Rack Attack 2.0, but Green survived the move and eventually pinned her with a roll-up.

The match also received a particularly low rating on Cagematch, sitting at 1.15 out of 10 at the time of the report. Viewers criticised several aspects of the contest, including its pace and conclusion.

However, the reported backstage response suggests WWE views both performers as entertainers whose appeal extends beyond their performances inside the squared circle. In that regard, match ratings aren’t necessarily the only score that matters to the company.

For now, WWE reportedly has no intention of making the online backlash a major concern. Bella and Green’s popularity outside the ring appears to remain an important part of their value to the promotion.