WrestleMania 42 Shocker: Nikki Bella’s Ankle Says ‘No,’ But an Iconic Anti-Diva Says ‘I’m Back!’
Let’s be completely honest with each other for a second: WrestleMania weekend is essentially the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and a three-ring circus all blended into one beautifully chaotic smoothie. It’s the time of year when dreams are realized, legendary moments are etched into history, and, unfortunately, the injury bug decides to take a massive bite out of the roster at the absolute worst possible moment.
If you were eagerly anticipating the grand return of The Bella Twins this weekend, I have some bad news that requires you to grab a box of tissues. But if you love a miraculous comeback story that belongs in a Hollywood script, you might want to put the tissues down and start practicing your loudest stadium pop.Here is the breakdown of the rollercoaster that is the Women’s Tag Team Title picture heading into WrestleMania 42.
The Ankle Roll Heard ‘Round the WWE Universe
For weeks, the WWE Universe has been buzzing about Nikki and Brie Bella lacing up their boots for a high-stakes Women’s Tag Team Title Match on WrestleMania Saturday. It was supposed to be a massive nostalgic hit. The Bellas are undeniably foundational pillars of the modern women’s division, and getting them back on the Grandest Stage of Them All felt right.Then came the March 27 edition of Smackdown. Nikki Bella took a step, rolled her ankle, and instantly, a collective groan echoed through living rooms across the globe.
Now, athletes are notoriously stubborn. Down to the absolute wire on Friday, there was a glimmer of hope that Nikki would somehow tape up that ankle, grit her teeth, and power through. We all know Nikki is tough as nails. But human anatomy doesn’t care about the WrestleMania marquee. Following a final medical evaluation, the heartbreaking reality set in: Nikki Bella is officially out of action for this weekend.
It’s a brutal pill to swallow for Nikki. Let’s not forget the infamous WrestleMania 29 debacle, where the Bellas had their eight-person tag match completely scrapped at the eleventh hour just so John Cena and The Rock could have a few extra minutes to stare intensely at each other. Missing out on a WrestleMania moment hurts, plain and simple.
Enter the Anti-Diva: Paige reclaims ‘Her House.’
You know the old saying in sports: “Next man up.” Or in this case, “Next iconic trailblazer up.”When one door closes, another gets kicked completely off its hinges. According to the wrestling insiders over at PWInsider and BodySlam, Nikki’s spot alongside Brie Bella isn’t going to be some random call-up from NXT. Oh no. The WWE is reportedly bringing back Saraya Jade-Bevis. Yes, folks. Paige is coming back to WWE, and she is stepping right into the Tag Team Championship match.
If you aren’t getting goosebumps right now, check your pulse. Back in 2018, when WWE medical staff told Paige her neck injuries would permanently disqualify her from ever wrestling again, it felt like a tragic, premature end to a revolutionary career. She stood in the ring, tears in her eyes, and told us all goodbye. To think that she has not only battled back to health, signed a reported multi-year deal, but is also returning at WrestleMania? That is the kind of human triumph you just can’t manufacture.
A Dash of Nostalgia and a Pinch of Irony
The poetic irony here is thick enough to cut with a steel chair. If you fire up the WWE Network and rewind the tape back to WrestleMania 31, Nikki and Brie Bella were standing across the ring from the team of AJ Lee and… you guessed it, Paige.Now, nearly a decade later, Paige is stepping in to team with Bella. It’s the kind of strange bedfellows booking that makes pro wrestling so endlessly entertaining.
And speaking of AJ Lee, she is also on the WrestleMania 42 card, defending her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against “The Man” Becky Lynch. If you were an avid watcher of the product in 2015, this weekend is basically a love letter to your fandom. The women who planted the seeds for the Women’s Evolution are back to reap the harvest on the biggest stage imaginable.
The Domino Effect on the Rest of the Card
Of course, a massive audible like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The sports entertainment machine is deeply interconnected.
Because the Women’s Tag Team Match was up in the air due to Nikki’s ankle, WWE creative was reportedly sitting on their hands regarding a potential singles banger between IYO SKY and Asuka. The brass needed to know if they had to throw the Kabuki Warriors into the tag title mix to fill the void. With Paige now reportedly locked in to save the day, the hope is that SKY and Asuka are given the green light to tear the house down in a singles bout this weekend.
So, while we send our best wishes to Nikki Bella for a speedy recovery—because nobody deserves to miss WrestleMania due to a fluke step on a Friday night—we can simultaneously strap in for what promises to be an emotional, roof-blowing return.Paige is back. It’s her house. And WrestleMania just got a lot more interesting.
