Nikki Bella Spotted in Walking Boot After SmackDown

Nikki Bella’s WWE WrestleMania 42 availability is now a genuine concern. After initial reports confirmed she suffered an ankle injury during the March 27 SmackDown, a new visual update has raised the stakes significantly — Nikki was recently spotted alongside Brie Bella while recording a future episode of The Nikki and Brie Show wearing a walking boot, providing the first clear indication of how serious the injury may be with WrestleMania 42 now just weeks away.

According to PWInsider, Bella suffered the injury during a post-match brawl on SmackDown and did not return after going down. The report provided further context on exactly how it happened. “For those who have asked about WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella after she went to the floor and didn’t return during a brawl on SmackDown, PWInsider.com is told that she suffered an ankle injury. The belief among those we spoke with is that Bella rolled her left ankle during an exchange with Charlotte Flair.”

Nikki Bella’s Walking Boot Raises Major Questions About Her WrestleMania 42 Readiness

The walking boot sighting is the development that changes the conversation. Earlier reports established that an ankle injury occurred — but the visual confirmation of a boot suggests the damage is significant enough to require serious support and rest, rather than something she could simply push through on adrenaline. Even minor ankle injuries requiring walking boot support can take several weeks to heal properly, and with WrestleMania 42 taking place April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the timeline is uncomfortably tight.

The Bella Twins are expected to be part of the reported fatal four-way WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 42, with The Irresistible Forces defending against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and the Bellas. Nikki’s injury complicates those plans significantly. WWE has made no official statement on her status, and no timeline for recovery has been provided. The coming days of Raw and SmackDown will be telling in terms of how WWE adjusts its booking around her availability — or lack thereof — heading into the Show of Shows.