WWE fans may have to wait a bit longer for the long-teased showdown between Asuka and IYO SKY, and it looks like the situation has less to do with creative plans and more to do with injury concerns elsewhere on the card.
Despite recent on-screen tension—highlighted by Asuka vowing to teach SKY “one final lesson” and SKY directly calling for the match—the bout was noticeably absent from the official WrestleMania 42 lineup reveal on ESPN. That omission raised eyebrows, especially given how heavily the feud has been hinted at in recent weeks.
According to Bryan Alvarez, the holdup is tied to Nikki Bella’s current medical status. The WWE Hall of Famer suffered an ankle injury in late March and has since been seen wearing a walking boot. As of now, she has not been cleared for in-ring competition, and that uncertainty is forcing WWE to keep multiple contingency plans in play.
If Nikki is unable to compete by WrestleMania weekend, the expectation is that Asuka will pivot away from a singles program and instead reunite with Kairi Sane as The Kabuki Warriors. In that scenario, they would take the place of the Bella Twins in the scheduled Women’s Tag Team Championship match.
That title bout—set for night one on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—is currently planned as a four-way match. Nia Jax and Lash Legend are slated to defend against teams featuring Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, Lyra Valkyria & Bayley, and the Bella Twins.
Should the change happen, IYO SKY’s WrestleMania role becomes far less clear, as her expected match with Asuka would presumably be scrapped. On the flip side, if Nikki Bella is medically cleared in time, WWE is expected to move forward with Asuka vs. SKY and lock it into the card.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with one of WrestleMania’s potential standout matches essentially on hold pending a medical update.
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