Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev started dating following her broken engagement to ex John Cena — but their romance ended in September 2024.
Nearly seven months after Garcia, who once wrestled under the name Nikki Bella, and Cena split for good in July 2018, Us Weekly confirmed that she and the Dancing With the Stars pro are dating, and had been seeing each other for “a while.” The pair first met when they were partnered up on season 25 of the reality TV dance competition in 2017.
Garcia confirmed her romance with Chigvintsev during an episode of Total Bellas in March 2019, and quickly went Instagram official with the dancer the following day.
The twosome got engaged in November 2019, setting a wedding date nearly three years later. The former wrestler and Chigvintsev welcomed their first child together — a son named Matteo in July 2020 — before tying the knot in August 2022.
Us confirmed in September 2024 that Garcia filed for divorce from Chigvintsev one week after he was arrested for domestic violence.
Scroll down to take a look back at the Garcia and Chigvintsev’s relationship:
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2017
Just partners! When they were on DWTS together, Garcia and Chigvintsev were sent home on the seventh night of competition.
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January 2019
Multiple sources confirmed to Us that the duo were giving love a shot — and had already been together for a bit of time. The news came nine months after Garcia and Cena called off their engagement after six years together, though they briefly reconciled, and split for good in July 2018.
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January 2019
Garcia and Chigvintsev’s newfound romance was first featured on a January 2019 episode of Total Bellas, where the two enjoyed a lunch date together. “The last time I saw Artem, I was in a relationship for so long, so I’m just really excited to see him today,” the WWE alum said in a clip from the show. “You look good,” she told him. “A lot’s happened since I’ve seen you last, which has been a long time.”
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February 2019
Garcia told Us that despite having “so much chemistry” with the Russia native, the two were “just friends” amid ongoing relationship speculation.
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March 2019
The California native finally confirmed their romance during the Total Bellas season finale, and later posted a sweet picture of the pair locking lips on Instagram.
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April 2019
Garcia revealed that the two weren’t monogamous just yet. “Yeah, we’re dating. … There’s been a lot of speculation about us … but I’m still dating [other people],” she said on an episode of “The Bellas Podcast” with her sister, Brie Bella. “We’re having fun. He’s showing me L.A.”
