Bill Simmons awkwardly responds to viral Nikki Bella moment at WWE RAW

Bill Simmons has finally responded to going viral during his trip to WWE RAW in California earlier in January.

Eagle-eyed fans spotted Simmons in the background as cameras introduced Nikki Bella on the Netflix broadcast.

Newly-single Bella, 41, glamorously dressed in a low-cut red strapless top and matching trousers, danced for the cameras and blew a kiss.

But sat in the background was Simmons, and fans hilariously spotted the sports analyst trying not to look at the WWE Hall of Famer Bella as she danced away.

Now, on the Bill Simmons podcast, he has addressed his viral moment - although he didn't sound like he wanted to spend too much time discussing it. 

Peter Schrager, who featured on the podcast, told Simmons: 'Your Netflix came - thought you handled it great, dude! Very impressed.'

Simmons replied: 'Thank you. Everyone in my life thinks I handled it perfectly.' 

Fans loved the clip of Simmons at the time, with many joking about how direct his forward stare was while Bella danced away. 

'Why is he staring into the abyss at the end like a serial killer,' one fan wrote on X in response to the viral clip.

Another said: 'Veteran discipline. Billy locked in not to get got on TV and have us meme him. Nice work.'

'My guy was LOCKED IN eyes straight ahead once he caught the camera,' a different fan wrote about the clip.

Simmons, 55, appeared to be sat with his son Ben at the event. He and his wife Kari have two kids together. 

Bella, meanwhile, was in WWE for 15 years, retiring in 2022 after her career alongside her sister Brie - with the sisters competing as 'The Bella Twins'.

Her appearance on Monday in California was also one of her first major public events since her divorce last year from the ballroom dancer Artem Chigvintsev.

The split was finalized amid Chigvintsev getting arrested for allegations of domestic violence in August after an apparent incident with Bella in Napa, California. The following week, they both filed for divorce.

But after their split was complete, the allegations were dropped. The couple have a four-year-old son, Mateo.

Bella - real name Nikki Garcia - had a representative tell US Weekly last November: 'Nikki and Artem have settled their divorce and will not be going to court.

'Both parties decided to drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively coparent their son.

'Nikki’s number one priority has always been her son and privacy on the matter. 

'She is thankful for all of the love and support she has received during this difficult time.'