Huge Nikki Bella Revelation After WWE WrestleMania 42 Twist

Nikki Bella was unable to compete at WrestleMania 42 due to a serious ankle injury (a fractured, sprained, and torn ankle).

On the March 27, 2026, episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Pittsburgh, the Fearless star twisted her ankle awkwardly during a tag team match against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss.

Two weeks ahead of WrestleMania, she underwent surgery in Birmingham to repair the damage. Because of her injury and subsequent surgery, she was unable to compete in a scheduled Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

On Night One of WrestleMania, Nikki Bella appeared on stage wearing a medical boot and using crutches. She announced that, despite trying her best, she was not medically cleared to compete.

She then introduced returning star Paige as her replacement. Paige teamed up with Brie Bella, and the duo went on to win the match and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio recently made a major revelation regarding Nikki Bella’s injury and the WrestleMania match. He stated that up until Tuesday, Nikki Bella was still factored into the WrestleMania match card.

From what Meltzer had heard, WWE had planned to book The Bellas as the winners of the match all along.

“I was told even as late as Tuesday that it was possible (Nikki Bella) would make it. The Bellas were going to win the match, that was always the plan when they brought Brie back.” [H/T WrestleTalk]

Nikki Bella Wanted Only Paige To Fill In For Her At WrestleMania

During the WrestleMania 42 Night 1 post-show panel, Nikki Bella revealed that when she traveled to Birmingham for her surgery, she met Paige there. She then asked Paige to replace her in the match so that her sister, Brie Bella, would not miss out on her WrestleMania moment.

Nikki added that there was no other superstar she would have wanted to take her place other than Paige.

I actually got surgery two weeks ago from yesterday. I managed to break, sprain, and tear my ankle. When I’m headed into Birmingham to get surgery. Guess who is in Birmingham. I was like, ‘Brie, there is no way I’m going to make WrestleMania, but you still have to have your moment.’

We were both like, ‘The only person who will make it feel special and like family is Paige.’ It’s crazy how life works. It’s part of the journey. There is no one else, and I truly mean this, no other WWE Superstar in the past or now, that I would want to take my place than Paige.

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