Nikki Bella targets June clearance while Paige and Brie defend tag titles

Nikki Bella targets June clearance while Paige and Brie defend tag titles

Nikki Bella is working toward a mid-to-late June medical evaluation that could determine when she returns to WWE competition, having been sidelined by a severe ankle injury that forced her out of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. In her absence, Paige stepped in as a replacement partner for Brie Bella, and the two won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship at Allegiant Stadium.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Nikki Bella described the moment she announced Paige’s return to the WrestleMania crowd as emotionally charged, saying there was no one else who could have filled that role given the history and personal closeness the Bella twins share with Paige. She also acknowledged that Brie and Paige have developed strong in-ring chemistry, noting their shared aesthetic sensibility as part of what makes the pairing work on television each week.

On her own recovery, Nikki Bella said she completed her first squat workout as her rehabilitation entered a strengthening phase, describing the progress as significant despite the physical difficulty. She noted that the ankle injury has proven more demanding than a previous neck injury she sustained during her career, and said she is pushing to build strength ahead of her X-ray and MRI appointments in mid-June, when doctors will assess bone growth and conduct strength evaluations to determine fitness for return.

Brie Bella and Paige are scheduled to defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Nia Jax and Lash Legend at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the event set to begin at 8 p.m. ET. Nikki Bella is expected to watch from the sidelines pending the outcome of her June medical review.