WWE’s WrestleMania 42 card may look finished—but one major match is still sitting in backup-plan territory, and Nikki Bella is the reason why.
After reports suggested IYO SKY vs. Asuka was being planned despite not being announced, a new update has now revealed why the situation isn’t as simple as it seemed. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live on April 7, 2026, Bryan Alvarez shut down the idea that anything unusual was happening—and instead pointed to a very specific reason the match is currently in limbo: “There is no IYO vs. Asuka match announced—it is not a conspiracy of any sort.”
From there, Alvarez explained that the entire situation actually hinges on Nikki Bella and her current injury status following a recent incident. That’s where the WrestleMania domino effect kicks in.
“Essentially, what’s going on, I was told, is this: Nikki Bella got hurt on SmackDown brawling with Nia Jax, and she was in a walking boot all weekend. And then last week on Raw, she came down the aisle and had no walking boot on—she seemed like she was okay. And then she was never seen again—they didn’t do anything with the Bellas on SmackDown.”
According to Alvarez, WWE currently has two different directions mapped out—and which one happens depends entirely on whether Nikki Bella is cleared to compete. And if she is cleared, that’s when the originally rumored singles match comes back into play.
“The way it was explained to me, it appears that if Nikki Bella cannot wrestle at WrestleMania 42, then the Bellas will be out of the tag team title match and Asuka and Kairi will get the spot. If the Bellas are good to go—if Nikki can wrestle—then we will see IYO vs. Asuka in a singles match, and Kairi will be involved somehow. So essentially, that match is in standby.”
What looked like a mystery or a late addition is actually a backup plan tied directly to another match on the card. WWE isn’t holding back IYO SKY vs. Asuka for surprise value—they’re waiting on medical clearance before locking anything in.
So while WrestleMania 42 appears finalized on the surface, this situation proves at least one major piece is still in flux—and could shift at any moment depending on Nikki Bella’s condition.
Do you think WWE should lock in IYO SKY vs. Asuka regardless, or is it smart to keep it as a backup plan depending on Nikki Bella’s status? Drop your thoughts and feedback below.
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