Nikki Bella Says Missing WrestleMania 42 Was “Extremely Hard” as It May Have Been Her Last US WrestleMania Moment

Missing WrestleMania 42 was one of the most painful experiences of Nikki Bella’s wrestling career — and the weight of what was lost goes beyond a single match. On a new episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki opened up about what the ankle injury truly cost her, and the reality of where she and Brie are in their careers made the moment feel even more significant.

“I don’t think a WrestleMania moment for me is going to come around. I get that I’ll probably have my last WrestleMania next year in Saudi maybe, but other than that, that will be it for me. So this would have been my last WrestleMania moment to share with family members and share with people here and, you know, really feel something,” Nikki said. She also addressed the work she had put in during the 18 months leading up to WrestleMania 42 — quietly and without complaint. “I’ve worked really hard the past year and a half and I haven’t complained. I’ve done what I’ve been told. I’ve helped put people over — even though I don’t care about that. But I’ve really been very okay taking a step back and helping out and not bitching about it. So this was my moment that I worked really hard for this past year and a half. And for that to all go away is extremely hard.”

Nikki Bella Is Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks and Is Prioritizing Long-Term Health Over Her Return Timeline

Nikki fractured, tore, and sprained her ankle in the injury sustained during a late-March SmackDown match, and is currently expected to miss 6-8 weeks. She acknowledged the timeline could extend beyond that and said she is at peace with taking whatever time is necessary — her primary focus is on long-term quality of life rather than rushing back. She and Brie are both expected to retire when their WWE contracts expire in early 2028, making next year’s WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia likely their final WrestleMania appearance before stepping away from the business.

Brie considered pulling out of WrestleMania 42 entirely after Nikki’s injury before ultimately deciding to compete with Paige as her partner — a decision made easier by the fact that the Bellas consider Paige family. Despite not competing, Nikki still played a role in the outcome, hobbling to ringside on crutches and striking Charlotte Flair with the crutch at a crucial moment to help Paige and Brie capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.