Add as a preferred source on Google Nikki Bella may be getting closer to a WWE in-ring return after the ankle injury that kept her out of WrestleMania 42.
The WWE Hall of Famer has been sidelined since March, when she suffered the injury on Friday Night SmackDown. The situation required surgery and ended up changing WWE’s plans for the women’s division at the Showcase of the Immortals.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Bella said doctors still have not given her an official timetable, as her ankle will not be reevaluated until June.
When she asked about a possible return date, Bella said doctors told her, “Not until I see what your ankle looks like in June.” She later admitted, “End of June would be incredible,” before adding, “But I also don’t want to go back too early.”
Paige ended up replacing Nikki at WrestleMania 42 and, alongside Brie Bella, captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Brie and Paige are expected to remain champions until Nikki is ready to return.
If cleared, Nikki could be back on WWE programming around Night of Champions, which is set for Saturday, June 27, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
For now, however, WWE has not confirmed her for the event.