Asuka vs. IYO SKY may not happen at WrestleMania 42 after all. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the match was listed in WWE’s internal lineup for WrestleMania 42 but was absent from the full card announced on ESPN earlier this week. With night two currently sitting at six matches, the decision on whether to add the bout remains unresolved.
Meltzer reported the following: “Last week that match was listed on the internal lineup but not yet announced. Asuka did a taped interview on Raw on 4/6 to build the match. Sky put a photo of Allegiant Stadium on her social media teasing it. On 4/7, when they announced both nights lineups on ESPN, the match was not there and the Sunday show only had six matches left. At press time, we were told it is up in the air and I guess this basically depends on how long they want the show to go and how much time is allotted for the six matches. There is a plan, and it may not even be the backup plan but the plan, to save the match for Backlash on 5/9. But we were told this decision is still up in the air.”
The situation is further complicated by Nikki Bella’s injury. As previously reported, if Nikki Bella is not medically cleared to compete in the Women’s Tag Team Championship fatal four-way at WrestleMania 42, The Kabuki Warriors would be inserted as her replacement alongside Brie Bella, which would remove Asuka from any potential singles match with SKY entirely.
Both sides have been publicly building toward the match. Asuka cut a taped promo on the April 6 edition of Raw, and SKY posted a photo of Allegiant Stadium on social media in what appeared to be a tease of her WrestleMania 42 appearance.
WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. WWE Backlash is set for May 9 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
