The planned match between Asuka and IYO SKY for WrestleMania 42 is now in question, with a final decision still pending.

According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the bout was previously listed internally by WWE but was notably absent when the full WrestleMania lineup was officially revealed on ESPN earlier this week. As it stands, night two currently features six matches, leaving uncertainty over whether the company will add another.

“Last week that match was listed on the internal lineup but not yet announced. Asuka did a taped interview on Raw on 4/6 to build the match. Sky put a photo of Allegiant Stadium on her social media teasing it. On 4/7, when they announced both nights lineups on ESPN, the match was not there and the Sunday show only had six matches left. At press time, we were told it is up in the air and I guess this basically depends on how long they want the show to go and how much time is allotted for the six matches. There is a plan, and it may not even be the backup plan but the plan, to save the match for Backlash on 5/9. But we were told this decision is still up in the air.”

One major factor affecting the situation is the status of Nikki Bella. If she is not medically cleared following her recent injury, WWE may alter its plans for the Women’s Tag Team Championship match. In that scenario, The Kabuki Warriors could be inserted into the bout, which would remove Asuka from a potential singles match against SKY altogether.

Despite the uncertainty, both competitors have already taken steps to build anticipation for the match. Asuka delivered a taped promo on the April 6 episode of WWE RAW, while SKY teased her involvement by posting an image of the WrestleMania venue online.

WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium. Meanwhile, WWE Backlash on May 9 at Amalie Arena remains a potential landing spot for the match if it does not take place at WrestleMania.

For now, the status of Asuka vs. IYO SKY remains unresolved, with WWE still weighing its options based on timing, match length, and overall card structure.

Backstage Update on Asuka vs IYO SKY WrestleMania 42 Match

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WWE is reportedly lining up a celebrity tag team match for WWE Backlash on May 9 in Tampa, with the bout expected to spin directly out of the WrestleMania 42 main event storyline.

According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, current plans call for Randy Orton to team with Pat McAfee against Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll.

Meltzer noted that the match is part of WWE’s creative direction following WrestleMania, with the rivalry between Orton and Rhodes continuing beyond their Undisputed WWE Championship clash, which headlines night one of WrestleMania 42 on April 18.

“McAfee will team with Orton against Rhodes & Jelly Roll coming out of WrestleMania and be a key match at the Backlash PPV on 5/9, at least as of plans that were confirmed to us by multiple people and were still in play at press time.”

Jelly Roll’s involvement has been building for weeks on WWE programming, with Orton previously targeting the music star during the WrestleMania storyline. The angle is expected to escalate further, with Rhodes potentially aligning with Jelly Roll as the feud expands.

The storyline continues this Friday on WWE SmackDown from San Jose. WWE has already announced that Rhodes will respond to McAfee following last week’s attack, while McAfee himself teased a “massive surprise” for the show, adding further intrigue heading into WrestleMania weekend.

This episode of SmackDown serves as the second-to-last show before WrestleMania 42, making it a key stop in building both the championship match and the reported celebrity tag team bout.

WWE Backlash will take place on May 9 at the Amalie Arena, where the high-profile tag match is expected to be featured prominently if plans remain unchanged.

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Nikki Bella has shared an update on the ankle injury she suffered during a recent episode of WWE SmackDown, revealing that she is still waiting on MRI results to determine the severity.

The injury occurred during the March 27 episode, where Nikki teamed with Brie Bella against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Nikki rolled her ankle early in the match but managed to finish the bout despite the apparent pain.

Speaking on Angie Martinez’s YouTube channel, Nikki admitted she has been frustrated by the uncertainty surrounding the injury.

“No, not at all. I’ve been super bummed out about it, so, as of now, it’s a sprained ankle. We don’t know if it’s a high sprain or something else, so I got an MRI I’m waiting for the results,” Nikki said.

She then detailed how the injury happened and what went through her mind as she continued competing.

“In our match on Friday, so, it was our second tag match back together, and it happened right in the beginning of the match, and I finished the match. I can’t believe I finished the match, and I stressed out my poor sister,” Nikki said.

Brie recalled the moment from ringside, explaining how chaotic and confusing the situation felt while the match was still unfolding live.

“It’s my second match back in eight years. So much anxiety in her first tag. So she tags me, and as I’m about to come in, she goes, ‘Oh, I think I broke my ankle,’ and we’re on live television. I was like, ‘Huh?’ I was like, ‘Do we need to call the match?’” Brie said.

Nikki went on to explain that she initially believed the injury could be a break, describing the intense pain and difficulty putting weight on her ankle. Despite that, she pushed through, aware of the larger storyline implications heading into WrestleMania 42.

“I thought it possibly could be broken, because I’ve had a break before and the rush that was going through my calf, and I couldn’t put weight on it, I was like, oh, I think I just broke my ankle and just how it felt, I just knew something was wrong but, I knew this was starting the story to WrestleMania. So in my head, I knew there were girls in the back waiting to run in. I knew there was just a lot of women a part of this match and I didn’t wanna let anyone down. But I still had like 10-12 minutes to go, and I was like, ‘My goodness…’ So every time I would tag in, I was like, ‘No, it’s really broken, Brie. It’s broken’ and the girl who we’re beating up is like, ‘Uh, put me in a hold?’ She’s like, ‘Wait, is her ankle broken?’” Nikki said.

Despite the injury, the Bella Twins are still being advertised for a Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 42 night one on April 18. However, Nikki’s participation will ultimately depend on her MRI results and medical clearance, which could impact the final lineup for the event.

Nikki Bella Awaiting MRI Results After SmackDown Ankle Injury

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