WWE has released an injury update on Bianca Belair which could rule her out of the Raw Women's Championship title match against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania.
The EST of WWE was recently attacked by Big Time Becks and the company has confirmed she has suffered a fractured hyoid bone.
The length of her absence has not been confirmed, but with WrestleMania around the corner, Belair could miss her opportunity to challenge for the title.
Should Belair be forced to withdraw from the pay-per-view clash, there are several Superstars WWE could opt for to replace her.
GiveMeSport Women looks at five potential opponents Lynch could come up against in the absence of Belair.
Rhea Ripley
The former Raw women's champion could be presented with the chance to win back her belt next month.
Rhea Ripley faced Lynch at a recent WWE live event, standing in for the absent Belair. The Nightmare was unsuccessful inside the ring but could be a smart choice to feature at WrestleMania.
During Lynch's feud with Charlotte Flair, she listed a number of wrestlers she thought the fanbase wanted to see her take on. Ripley was one of them, so a new rivalry between these two stars could come to fruition.
The Nightmare is already competing at WrestleMania. She is set to partner Liv Morgan in the Women's Tag Team Championship title match. But she could certainly put some time aside to challenge Lynch for the title she once held for 98 days.
Asuka
Asuka has been out of action since July 2021 after suffering a legitimate shoulder injury which required surgery.
However, following her lengthy absence, the Japanese star is ready to return to the ring and is awaiting a confirmed storyline, according to PWInsider.
Asuka's last match was an attempt to secure a title match opportunity at Money in the Bank, but she was snubbed by Nikki A.S.H.
A comeback match against Lynch could be the perfect opportunity for Asuka to mark her long-awaited return to the stage.
Bayley
Bayley is another star who has been absent in recent months due to injury. The Role Model picked up an ACL injury during training last July and has been out of action since.
A lot of rumours have surrounded her return and the wrestler herself even dropped a potential hint last month.
After Ripley's split from former tag team partner Nikki A.S.H, Bayley tweeted The Nightmare asking if she was ready for a new opponent, perhaps alluding to wanting to face her upon her return.
PWInsider reports that Bayley will return to screens after WrestleMania, but WWE is full of surprises and The Role Model could make her comeback earlier than expected.
Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss recently returned to WWE after a lengthy spell on the sidelines to undergo sinus surgery.
The last time we saw Bliss in the ring, she failed to defeat Charlotte Flair in a title match at Extreme Rules, where The Queen also tore up the demonic doll Lilly.
Bliss has since made a soft return to WWE — featuring in a series of clips documenting her journey through therapy — but she is yet to make an in-ring appearance.
This is reportedly due to the fact the company does not have any storylines that include Bliss at the moment. However, this could lead nicely to a surprise appearance at WrestleMania and a title opportunity for the former three-time Raw women's champion.
Ronda Rousey
While it's unlikely Ronda Rousey will compete in two singles matches at WrestleMania, stranger things have definitely happened at WWE and this booking could be the mother of all showdowns.
The Baddest Woman on the Planet recently chose to take on Charlotte for the SmackDown Women's Championship, but she has long-standing feuds with both The Queen and Lynch.
Rousey's last match before leaving the company in 2019 was the Winners Takes All clash with her two foes, which ended in Lynch claiming both Raw and SmackDown belt — the first time a woman has ever held both titles.
Rousey defeating both of her old foes and taking their titles would be arguably the most iconic end to WrestleMania 38 and would end the long-running reign of Lynch and Flair.