Nikki Bella may have hit an unexpected roadblock just weeks before WrestleMania 42.
During this past Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown, the Hall of Famer reportedly suffered an injury while teaming with her sister Brie Bella in tag team action against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. While the match continued to its finish—with Brie ultimately scoring the win—Nikki’s involvement noticeably dropped off late in the bout, sparking concern both backstage and among fans.
The initial report came from Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez, who noted that Nikki appeared to be dealing with a leg issue after an off-screen exchange with Nia Jax. According to Alvarez, Bella was seen limping and was checked on by a ringside doctor for the remainder of the segment, never re-entering the match.
However, a conflicting report from Cory Hays of BodySlam suggests the situation may not be quite what it first seemed. Hays indicated that the injury was actually related to Nikki’s ankle and occurred during an in-ring sequence with Charlotte Flair—not during any altercation with Jax. Fan-captured footage circulating online appears to support that version, showing Nikki’s ankle awkwardly turning as Flair executed a fast-paced entry into the ring, leading into a roll-up spot.
As of now, neither WWE nor Nikki Bella has publicly confirmed the nature or severity of the injury, leaving her status very much up in the air.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The Bella Twins recently inked new two-year deals with WWE following their return at the Royal Rumble, with their sights firmly set on finally capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships—a goal that eluded them during their previous run.
The women’s tag division is heating up at exactly the same time. Alongside The Bellas, teams like Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria are all circling the titles. Meanwhile, reigning champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend—dubbed “The Irresistible Forces”—are set to defend against Bayley and Valkyria on Raw.
There’s also been growing speculation that WWE is building toward a fatal four-way tag team match for the championships at WrestleMania 42, which is now less than three weeks away. If Nikki’s injury turns out to be serious, those plans may need a last-minute overhaul.
For now, it’s a waiting game—but all eyes will be on updates regarding Nikki Bella’s condition as WrestleMania season hits its peak.
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