5 Shocking Revelations About John Cena And Nikki Bella's Current Lives After Their 2025 Reunion
The dramatic, high-profile relationship between wrestling icons John Cena and Nikki Bella captivated the world for six years, culminating in a public breakup just weeks before their planned wedding in 2018. Even years later, the curiosity surrounding the former power couple remains immense, especially as both have moved on to new chapters in their personal lives.
As of December 23, 2025, a surprising new chapter in their story has emerged: a brief, low-key reunion at the 2025 Royal Rumble, a moment that Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella) later detailed on Kristin Cavallari’s podcast. This unexpected interaction, coupled with major recent life changes for both stars—including Nikki's highly publicized divorce finalization—has brought their intertwined legacies back into the spotlight, revealing just how different their paths have become since their split.
John Cena and Nikki Bella: A Complete Biography Profile
The former couple represents two of the biggest names in modern WWE history, with careers that have since expanded into Hollywood and media empires. Their biographies highlight their parallel rise to global fame:
John Cena
- Full Name: John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.
- Born: April 23, 1977 (Age 48 as of late 2025)
- Birthplace: West Newbury, Massachusetts, USA
- Career Highlights: 16-time World Champion in WWE, WWE Hall of Famer (future inductee), successful actor in major film franchises (e.g., *Fast & Furious*, *The Suicide Squad*), television host.
- Relationship Status: Married to Shay Shariatzadeh.
Nikki Bella (Nikki Garcia)
- Full Name: Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace (now Nikki Garcia)
- Born: November 21, 1983 (Age 42 as of late 2025)
- Birthplace: San Diego, California, USA
- Career Highlights: WWE Hall of Famer (inducted with twin sister Brie Bella as The Bella Twins), longest-reigning Divas Champion in WWE history, reality TV star (Total Divas, Total Bellas), entrepreneur, author.
- Relationship Status: Recently finalized divorce from Artem Chigvintsev.
The Core Reason: Why the WrestleMania Proposal Ended in a Split
The relationship between John Cena and Nikki Bella was a cornerstone of WWE programming and reality television, notably featuring heavily on the E! network shows *Total Divas* and *Total Bellas*. Their engagement was one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history, with Cena proposing to Bella in front of 75,000 fans at WrestleMania 33 in April 2017.
Despite the grand gesture, the engagement was called off one year later, just weeks before their scheduled wedding date.
The fundamental and consistent reason for the split revolved around one issue: children. Nikki Bella had a deep-seated desire to be a mother, a wish she had initially suppressed for the sake of her relationship with Cena.
John Cena had long been adamant that he did not want to have children, a stance he maintained due to his demanding career and past commitments. Although Cena reportedly offered to reverse his vasectomy, Nikki realized that forcing him to change his mind would ultimately lead to resentment and unhappiness for both of them, leading her to prioritize her own dream of motherhood.
Another entity that often surfaces in discussions about their relationship is the notorious 75-page cohabitation agreement. Before moving in together, Cena required Bella to sign a detailed contract, which he later explained was his way of protecting his assets and his brother's family home. While Nikki admitted the contract was "crazy" and a major sign of Cena's commitment issues, she ultimately signed it, highlighting the complex dynamics of their time together.
The Shocking Contrast: Their Lives in Late 2025
The true measure of their separation is the stark contrast between their current lives, a difference that directly reflects the core issue that caused their breakup—the desire for a family. Both stars are now married (or recently divorced), but their paths have diverged completely.
John Cena: The Quiet Life with Shay Shariatzadeh
John Cena found love again with Canadian engineer Shay Shariatzadeh. The couple met in 2019 while Cena was filming *Playing with Fire* in Vancouver and quickly developed a private, serious relationship.
They married quietly in October 2020 at an attorney's office in Tampa, Florida, followed by a second, more formal ceremony in Vancouver in 2021. Cena's life with Shay is notably more private than his previous high-profile romance with Nikki. Crucially, Cena has maintained his position on fatherhood: the couple does not have any children, allowing Cena to focus on his booming Hollywood career and private life.
Nikki Garcia: Motherhood and a High-Profile Divorce Finalization
Nikki Bella began dating her *Dancing with the Stars* partner, Artem Chigvintsev, in 2019. This relationship directly fulfilled the dream she couldn't realize with Cena. The couple welcomed their son, Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev, in July 2020.
Nikki and Artem married in August 2022, and their journey was documented on the E! special, *Nikki Bella Says I Do*.
However, the marriage was short-lived. In a massive, recent update, Nikki filed for divorce in September 2024. The final details of the settlement were finalized and revealed in December 2025, just weeks before this article's current date.
The finalized divorce settlement requires Nikki to pay Artem a significant sum, along with monthly child support for their son, Matteo. This public and dramatic end to her second serious relationship, contrasting with Cena's quiet marriage, underscores the turbulent nature of Nikki's journey to motherhood and family life.
The 2025 Royal Rumble Reunion: What Nikki Said
The most current and intriguing entity in the John Cena and Nikki Bella saga is their brief, unexpected meeting at the 2025 Royal Rumble. Nikki, who had a surprise return to the WWE ring at the event, detailed the interaction on her podcast.
She confirmed that they spoke backstage for the first time in years, describing the conversation as a quick, yet cordial, exchange of pleasantries. Nikki noted that the interaction brought a sense of closure, confirming that both individuals are happy and thriving in their separate lives.
This brief, seven-year-later reunion confirmed what fans and media have long suspected: the two have moved past their romantic history and now operate as respected colleagues in the wrestling world.
The Legacy of John and Nikki: A Lesson in Different Paths
The legacy of John Cena and Nikki Bella remains one of the most compelling love stories in pop culture, not for its happy ending, but for its honest depiction of irreconcilable differences. The end of their relationship was a difficult but necessary consequence of their differing visions for the future: Cena prioritizing his career and child-free status with Shay Shariatzadeh, and Nikki pursuing her dream of motherhood with Artem Chigvintsev, despite the recent heartbreak of a divorce.
Their story, from the WrestleMania proposal to the quiet 2025 reunion, serves as a powerful illustration that sometimes, love isn't enough to overcome fundamental differences. Both have achieved the life they ultimately wanted, albeit through dramatically different and often public circumstances.
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