Bianca Belair Expected to Miss WrestleMania 42 After Imminent Surgery

Bianca Belair’s road back just hit a major obstacle — and WrestleMania 42 is now out of the picture.

Belair revealed on February 15 that she’s finally undergoing finger surgery on February 16, nearly a year after the brutal injury she suffered at WrestleMania 41. What was once expected to be a short-term recovery turned into a drawn-out situation after her knuckle joint was crushed during a Triple Threat match with Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY. Now, with surgery officially happening, there’s clarity on what it means for WWE’s biggest show of the year.

Speaking during a Q&A session on February 16, WrestleVotes addressed Belair’s situation directly and didn’t offer much optimism about her WrestleMania 42 status.

“Unfortunately, it would seem that since she’s having surgery this week, that takes her off WrestleMania.”

WrestleMania 42 is just two months away, and Belair was a question mark despite not competing since April 2025. While some fans held out hope for a surprise return, surgery this close to the event makes that highly unlikely.

Instead of rushing back, it appears WWE and Belair are prioritizing a full recovery after months of trying to manage the injury. With WrestleMania now off the table, the focus shifts to when “The EST” can make a proper comeback — and what that return will look like once she’s cleared.

Do you think Bianca Belair should take as much time as needed to fully heal, or were you hoping to see her back in time for WrestleMania 42? Sound off in the comments.

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