What Happened With Nikki Bella And John Cena?
The relationship between John Cena and Nikki Bella was one of WWE’s most high-profile romances, playing out not just in the ring but front and center on reality TV and the world stage. Their breakup, just weeks before their wedding in 2018, wasn’t just a tabloid moment—it became a talking point for fans everywhere, raising real questions about love, commitment, and what it takes to make things work when you’re always under the spotlight.
John Cena and Nikki Bella Relationship
John Cena and Nikki Bella began dating in 2012, quickly becoming WWE’s ultimate power couple. Audiences watched their chemistry both on TV shows like “Total Divas” and “Total Bellas” and in the squared circle itself. Cena’s proposal at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 was pure spectacle—right out in the middle of the ring after they’d teamed up for a win. For a while, it looked like the fairy tale was headed to a happy ending.
But underneath the public glamour, there were cracks. The biggest was about one fundamental life choice—having children. Nikki, from pretty early, was clear about wanting to start a family of her own. Cena, meanwhile, made it known that kids didn’t fit his life plan. This wasn’t a small argument, but a divide running through their whole six-year relationship.
Both admitted to struggling with the issue, with Nikki even trying to convince herself—and others—that love could win over their differences. In the end, compromises can only go so far. Their issues weren’t about bad behavior or drama behind the scenes, but two good people realizing they wanted different things out of life.
WrestleKliq (@WrestleKliq) highlighted the memorable moment when John Cena proposed to Nikki Bella in front of a roaring crowd of 70,000 fans, marking their official engagement and showcasing the wrestler’s boldness on such a grand stage.
Why Did Nikki Bella And John Cena Break Up?
In 2018, just before their planned wedding, Nikki Bella ended things. She’s spoken openly about the pain and confusion: “You almost wish it was bad, because it’s so much easier to walk away. It’s so much harder to walk away when it’s loving”. Nikki said she kept praying for clarity and finally trusted her gut—she wanted to start fresh, not “bring a child into a relationship that I didn’t know if this life was right for them”.
John Cena tried to meet her halfway at points, even reportedly saying he’d try for kids, but by then, the gap was too wide to bridge. Sometimes you love a person but know it’s just not going to work—that was the story in this case.
Pop Crave (@PopCrave) reported that John Cena and Nikki Bella have rekindled their romance, reuniting just six weeks after calling off their wedding, a move that has reignited buzz among fans of the WWE power couple.
Who is Nikki Bella Married To?
After the breakup, Nikki Bella eventually found a new start with Artem Chigvintsev, her partner from “Dancing with the Stars.” The two got engaged in 2019, welcomed their son Matteo in 2020, and married in 2022. However, their marriage faced its own challenges; in 2024, Artem was arrested on domestic violence and battery charges, and the couple divorced soon after, with joint custody of their son.
Is John Cena Still Married?
John Cena also moved forward with his life. He married Shay Shariatzadeh, an engineer he met in 2019 while filming “Playing with Fire,” in a quiet ceremony in Florida in 2020. The two had a second wedding celebration in Vancouver in 2022. Cena, who now values privacy in his personal affairs, has spoken about the importance of keeping their relationship intimate and away from constant public scrutiny.
The Cena-Bella breakup wasn’t drama-filled, but it was honest—a lesson that sometimes, love isn’t all you need if your future maps don’t match. Both have moved on, following their own paths, showing that even the most iconic couples can decide to let go so they (and their fans) can see what’s next.
