WrestleMania 42 was on its way to set a record for the most women’s matches. Now, it will come in a close second…although, maybe technically tie for first with WrestleMania 36. This year’s Showcase of the Immortals was set to have six women’s matches on the card. However, injury bugs have shaken up plans, and now there will be four women’s matches over two nights. Here are the latest details as WWE cancels two WrestleMania 42 matches featuring female talent.
WWE Cancels Iyo Sky vs. Asuka
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka was on the tentative WrestleMania 42 card for months. The former Damage CTRL stablemates were set to face off in other Singles action or in a Triple Threat Match also featuring Kairi Sane.
However, WWE held off on announcing the showdown when Nikki Bella suffered an ankle injury. The WWE Hall of Famer is still scheduled to compete in a Fatal Four Way for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. While it’s expected for Nikki Bella to wrestle at WrestleMania, The Bella Twin hasn’t received the official green light from doctors.
As of Monday, WWE was still leaning toward a Damage CTRL implosion at The Grandest Stage of Them All. The storyline continued, with Kairi Sane even picking up a shocking victory over Iyo Sky on Raw.
Originally, WWE was keeping Asuka and Kairi Sane in their back pockets. WWE Creative was prepared to shoehorn The Kabuki Warriors into the multi-woman match in the event Nikki and Brie can’t compete. Today, Asuka vs. Iyo Sky is officially off the card as of now. It also doesn’t seem like WWE will be placing Kabuki Warriors into the match, even if Nikki Bella can’t compete.
Iyo Sky vs. Asuka Expected At Backlash
Things can change after the show keeps getting timed out. However, with celeb involvements and backstage segments with stars that don’t have a match, there doesn’t seem to be enough time for Iyo Sky vs. Asuka.
In the past week, Iyo Sky issued a challenge to Asuka. The wrestling world started whispering after Iyo Sky’s X account called out Asuka at WrestleMania. Meanwhile, a video with a longer caption was also posted on Iyo Sky’s Instagram account.
The Instagram post doesn’t specifically mention WrestleMania. However, the shortened X post did mention “Vegas,” which is the home of WrestleMania 42. Now, the X post is deleted, as WWE has canceled Iyo Sky vs. Asuka for WrestleMania. It’s now believed that the two former teammates will square off at Backlash.
It’s a shocking turn of events for Iyo Sky and Asuka, both of whom have been in prominent World Title Matches in the past. Iyo Sky was even the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion at last year’s event, walking out with her Championship intact.
The Genuis of the Sky isn’t the only former Women’s Champion to have WWE cancel their match. Former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was also cut from the WrestleMania 42 card.
WWE Cancels Tiffany Stratton’s WrestleMania Match
Less than a month ago, Tiffany Stratton was making media rounds to promote WrestleMania. While the blonde bombshell noted that she didn’t know who her opponent was, Tiffany Stratton was confident she would have a match on the card. Now, WWE cancels her match for good.
Last year was Tiffy Time for the young star, as she entered WrestleMania 41 as the Champion and left with her Title after defeating Charlotte Flair.
This year, Tiffany Stratton was penciled in to face Giulia and Jordynne Grace in a Triple Threat Match for the Women’s US Title. Unfortunately, The Juggernaut injured her ankle, causing WWE to quietly put a pause on building the match.
In the meantime, Tiffany Stratton became embroiled in a storyline with Chelsea Green. Chelsea Green is another star out with an ankle injury. Along with Nikki Bella and Jordynne Grace, Chelsea Green’s ankle injury messed up plans. The inaugural Women’s US Champion was considered an option to be inserted into the Triple Threat. However, WWE has decided to drop all plans for these women and continue with the card as is.
Some believe there might be heat on Tiffany Stratton. The former Women’s Champion recently stated that she wanted to break into Hollywood before 30. That said, many WWE Superstars are under contract with talent agencies to help them secure these types of roles, including Tiffany Stratton.
WrestleMania 42 Won’t Set Record for Most Women’s Matches
The WWE Women’s Division has repeatedly stolen the show all year round. It made sense that WWE was planning to make WrestleMania 42 the year with the most women’s matches. Now, WrestleMania 42 will fall shortly behind WrestleMania 36 in achieving this goal.
WrestleMania 42 will feature three women’s matches on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Night One:
- Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (C) vs. Liv Morgan.
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (C) vs. Becky Lynch.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way: The Iresistible Forces (C) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria vs. The Bella Twins
Night Two:
- WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (C) vs. Rhea Ripley
WrestleMania 36 had five women’s matches total, with four being on the main show and one being on the preshow. Technically, this means the pandemic-era WrestleMania saw the most women’s roster match-ups.
WrestleMania 36 women’s matches included:
- Night One: WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles: The Kabuki Warriors vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
- Night One: WWE Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler
- Night Two, Preshow: Natalya vs. Liv Morgan
- Night Two: WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Fatal 5-Way Match: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans vs. Naomi vs. Tamina
- Night Two: NXT Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley
While the main card seems set, there haven’t been any preshow matches announced yet. Some, there is still time for WWE to add a women’s match or two before the events. As of now, WWE is banking on Iyo Sky vs. Asuka at Backlash. However, the WrestleMania 42 Preshow might still get a dose of Tiffy Time.