Estimated recovery window set following surgery
Summary
– Nikki Bella expects 6 to 8 weeks recovery after ankle surgery
– Injury forced her out of WrestleMania 42 match
– Paige replaced her and won tag titles with Brie Bella
Nikki Bella has provided an update on her recovery timeline after suffering a serious ankle injury that kept her out of WrestleMania 42. The injury occurred on the March 27 episode of SmackDown and required surgery shortly before the event.
The damage to her ankle was significant, as she confirmed it involved a tear, sprain, and fracture. The severity of the injury forced WWE to make a last-minute change to the scheduled match.
Paige stepped in as her replacement and teamed with Brie Bella at WrestleMania. The new pairing went on to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships, creating one of the biggest moments of the night.
Following the event, Nikki responded to a fan question about her recovery. She stated that she aims to return within 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how the healing process progresses.
The timeline offers a hopeful outlook given the extent of the injury. A smooth recovery could see Nikki back in action sooner rather than later.
For now, her focus remains on rehabilitation while Brie Bella continues to represent the team alongside Paige as champion.
6-8 weeks hopefully. 🙏🏼🤞🏼
— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) April 19, 2026
