WWEs WrestleMania 42 card may look finishedbut one major match is still sitting in backup-plan territory, and Nikki Bella is the reason why. After reports suggested IYO SKY vs. Asuka was being planned despite not being announced, a new update has now revealed why the situation isnt as simple as it seemed. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live on April 7, 2026, Bryan Alvarez shut down the idea that anything unusual was happeningand instead pointed to a very specific reason the match is currently in limbo: There is no IYO vs. Asuka match announcedit is not a conspiracy of any sort. From there, Alvarez explained that the entire situation actually hinges on Nikki Bella and her current injury status following a recent incident. Thats where the WrestleMania domino effect kicks in. According to Alvarez, WWE currently has two different directions mapped outand which one happens depends entirely on whether Nikki Bella is cleared to compete. And if she is cleared, thats when the originally rumored singles match comes back into play. What looked like a mystery or a late addition is actually a backup plan tied directly to another match on the card. WWE isnt holding back IYO SKY vs. Asuka for surprise valuetheyre waiting on medical clearance before locking anything in. So while WrestleMania 42 appears finalized on the surface, this situation proves at least one major piece is still in fluxand could shift at any moment depending on Nikki Bellas condition. Do you think WWE should lock in IYO SKY vs. Asuka regardless, or is it smart to keep it as a backup plan depending on Nikki Bellas status? Drop your thoughts and feedback below. Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication. G Add as a preferred source on Google
