Nikki Bella returns at SummerSlam following recovery from neck surgery

The women's division on SmackDown Live has been turned upside-down with the return of the longest-reigning WWE Divas Champion of all time, Nikki Bella.

With Eva Marie suspended for 30 days due to a wellness policy violation, Natalya and Alexa Bliss were left without a partner Sunday night at SummerSlam against the trio of Becky Lynch, Naomi, and Carmella.

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This created an opening for Nikki to make her in-ring return after missing nearly a year of action after undergoing neck surgery.

"I have basically a broken neck, a pretty bad herniated disk," Nikki explained to EOnline.com's Jess Cohen prior to her surgery in January. "What makes mine a little bit difficult than most people is that I have some disk behind my vertebrae so with a lot of prayers we're gonna pray that the doctors can get the piece behind my vertebrae with just a bone fusion."

Nikki's previous finishing maneuver, the Rack Attack, involved her opponent crashing down on the back of her neck and shoulders. Continuing to use that finisher isn't feasible following her surgery, so the Bella twin switched things up Sunday and utilized a variation of a TKO on Carmella to pick up the victory for her side.

Her last match came on Oct. 26 of last year on Monday Night Raw, uniting with her sister, Brie, and Alicia Fox in a win over Lynch, Charlotte, and Paige.