Paige is reportedly making a comeback to WWE at WrestleMania 42, stepping in for the injured Nikki Bella. Nikki was scheduled to compete in the Women’s Tag Team Title Match, but her health has been in question since she rolled her ankle on SmackDown.
Nikki Bella’s Injury Sidelines WrestleMania Appearance
Nikki Bella’s injury occurred on the March 27 edition of SmackDown. There was optimism that she would be cleared for action, but a report indicates that she will not be wrestling this weekend. An old rival is reportedly coming in to take her place.
Paige Returns to WWE at WrestleMania 42
Paige is reportedly set to return to her house at WrestleMania 42. She has reportedly signed to return as a wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment and is expected to return to the ring this weekend as part of WrestleMania 42. The insiders have also confirmed that Paige has signed a multi-year deal with the company. Paige will reportedly redebut on Saturday night, taking Nikki’s spot alongside Brie in the Women’s Tag Team Championship Match.
Background on The Bella Twins and Paige
The Bella Twins’ return to WrestleMania was a long time coming. There may be no better replacement for Nikki than Paige. Nikki and Brie have only ever tagged together once at WrestleMania, when they squared off with AJ Lee and Paige at WrestleMania 31. This would be Lee’s last match in WWE for more than a decade, as she would retire from in-ring competition until she returned last year.
Lee will also be making her return to WrestleMania this weekend when she defends her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch.
Other WrestleMania Changes
The WrestleMania 42 four-way was also said to be having a trickledown effect on the rest of the card. WWE was reportedly holding off a potential match between IYO SKY and Asuka in order to see if the Kabuki Warriors would need to be added to the match on Sunday. There’s no word yet on whether Paige’s return will allow SKY and Asuka to work this weekend after all.
Brie would retire from full-time wrestling in 2016 to dedicate more time to her family, but the twins would have sporadic reunions throughout the last decade.
Infamously, the Bellas were supposed to team with Cody Rhodes and Damian Sandow at WrestleMania 29 against Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls, but the match was cut at the last minute in order to give the main event between John Cena and The Rock more time. Cena would defeat Rock to regain the WWE Championship.