WWE superstar Nikki Bella said she had “a painful two weeks” after she fractured her ankle, which sidelined her for this weekend’s WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
After missing the Fatal Four-Way Women’s Tag Team Championship match, Nikki shared a video of her bruised ankle with a multiple stitches.
“I’ll finally fill you all in soon,” Nikki wrote with a broken heart emoji. “Fractured, tore and sprained my ankle. It’s been a painful two weeks.”
Nikki and twin sister, Brie Bella, were set to make a comeback as a team in a four-team tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, Lash Legend and Nia Jax and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.
Paige, who surprisingly returned to replace Nikki, teamed with Brie to win the four-team tag team match and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
During the post WrestleMania 42 post-show, Nikki explained how Paige replaced her.
“So I actually got surgery two weeks ago [Friday,]” Nikki said. “So I managed to break, sprain, and tear my ankle. So, listen, how crazy this is: when I’m heading to Birmingham to get surgery, guess who is in Birmingham?”
Paige replied, “Me.”
“And Brie and I are literally on the phone, and I’m like, ‘Brie, there is no way I’m going to make WrestleMania, but like, you still have to have your moment,’ and both at the same time are like, ‘The only person that will still make it feel special is Saraya, Paige,” Nikki continued,
“There is no one else, and I truly mean this, no other WWE Superstar in the past or now that I would want to take my spot other than Paige.”
Nikki wore a walking boot as she and Brie walked the red carpet before the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night.
She sustained her injury during the March 27 SmackDown.
Fans questioned if she’d be ready for the Bellas’ comeback in the Fatal Four-Way Women’s Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 42 after she was seen wearing a walking boot late last month while in New York.
Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 had plenty of exhilarating moments, such as singer Jelly Roll hitting ESPN personality Pat McAfee with a flying elbow on the announcer’s table.
Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee to win the women’s Intercontinental title.
Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship — but an unhinged Orton grabbed the belt from Rhodes and hit him with it.
Orton hit Rhodes with a punt kick to the head to close out Night 1 of WrestleMania 42.
