Nikki Bella’s WWE WrestleMania 42 Status Is Concerning

Nikki Bella’s WrestleMania 42 status remains completely unresolved with the Show of Shows now just days away. The Wrestling Observer has provided a brutally concise update on the situation — “too close to call” — suggesting that WWE itself may not know until the final hours whether Nikki will be medically cleared to compete in the Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way on Night One.

Bella suffered the ankle injury during the March 27 SmackDown while teaming with Brie Bella against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. She was forced to stay at ringside under medical supervision during a post-match brawl, unable to continue. In the weeks since, WWE has provided periodic updates on Raw and SmackDown confirming she has been actively rehabbing and working toward clearance, while stopping short of any firm guarantee about her availability.

The Walking Observer update reinforces what has been a building sense of genuine uncertainty around one of WrestleMania 42’s most personal storylines. Nikki herself has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of the injury, describing it as the worst pain she has ever experienced — surpassing even a broken neck she suffered earlier in her career — and revealing that she finished the SmackDown match on what she believed at the time was a broken ankle.

WWE May Need a Backup Plan for the Women’s Tag Title Match if Nikki Bella Cannot Be Cleared in Time

The timing of the uncertainty is particularly significant given what Nikki and Brie Bella’s inclusion in the match represents. The Bella Twins have been without the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships throughout their entire career, making WrestleMania 42 their most significant opportunity yet to claim the one major title that has eluded them. Brie returned from an eight-year retirement specifically to pursue this moment alongside her sister, making any scenario where Nikki cannot compete an especially painful outcome.

If Nikki is unable to be cleared, WWE would face a decision about how to restructure the Fatal Four-Way — whether by replacing the Bellas entirely, allowing Brie to compete with a replacement partner, or making some other creative adjustment. A previous report from Bryan Alvarez had indicated that Asuka and Kairi Sane were the most likely replacement option if the Bellas could not compete, though IYO SKY versus Asuka as a singles match has also been discussed as a potential alternative. WrestleMania 42 Night One takes place April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, meaning the clock is ticking on what could be one of the event’s most significant last-minute changes.