Reason Revealed for WWE Pulling IYO SKY vs. Giulia From SmackDown

WWE’s last-minute shakeup to Friday Night SmackDown just got an explanation.

Earlier today, WWE announced that the originally advertised Giulia vs. IYO SKY match for the February 20 episode of SmackDown had been scrapped. In its place, Rhea Ripley will now face Giulia in a singles bout. The company broke the news on social media just hours before the show went live:

“BREAKING NEWS: @RheaRipley_WWE will replace @IyoSkyWWE and face @giulia0221g on #SmackDown tonight, 8/7c on @SYFY!”

WWE did not initially provide a reason for pulling the SKY vs. Giulia match, leaving fans speculating about possible injuries or creative changes.

Now, Cory Hays of BodySlam.net has provided clarity on the situation. According to Hays, the decision was made because WWE is intentionally saving the IYO SKY vs. Giulia match for a later date. In other words, the bout wasn’t canceled due to injury or travel issues — it was postponed strategically.

That makes sense given the potential magnitude of a SKY vs. Giulia showdown. Both women carry significant momentum, and the company may see bigger value in building the match with more storyline weight rather than giving it away on short notice.

With WWE clearly viewing SKY vs. Giulia as a match worth protecting, the question now becomes when and where it finally happens.

Do you think WWE made the right call saving IYO SKY vs. Giulia for later? Or should they have delivered the match tonight as originally advertised? Sound off in the comments below.