7 Shocking Realities Of John Cena And Nikki Bella's Relationship After Their 2025 Royal Rumble Reunion
The enduring, high-profile romance between wrestling giants John Cena and Nikki Bella (now known as Nikki Garcia) remains one of the most talked-about celebrity relationships, even years after their dramatic split. As of December 2025, the narrative has taken a fresh turn, moving far beyond the public breakup of 2018 with new life updates and even a brief, unexpected reunion. This article dives deep into the seven most shocking realities of their past, present, and future, including recent events that have kept the former power couple in the headlines.
The latest headlines confirm that despite both moving on with separate lives—John Cena with his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, and Nikki navigating a recent, high-profile divorce—their professional worlds still occasionally intersect. The former couple had a brief, seven-years-later reunion at the 2025 Royal Rumble, an event that instantly reignited fan curiosity about the nature of their current relationship. Their story is a complex tapestry of love, career ambition, and fundamental life choices that continue to define their respective legacies.
John Cena and Nikki Bella: Complete Biography Profiles
The foundation of their relationship and subsequent breakup is rooted in their individual lives and careers. Here is a detailed look at the two wrestling and reality TV icons.
John Cena (John Felix Anthony Cena)
- Born: April 23, 1977 (Age 48 in 2025)
- Birthplace: West Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Current Spouse: Shay Shariatzadeh (m. October 2020)
- Children: None (Maintains a public child-free lifestyle)
- Key Career Highlights: 16-time WWE World Champion, WWE Hall of Famer (unofficial), Star of Hollywood films like F9, The Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker.
- Relationship with Nikki: 2012–2018 (6 years), engaged at WrestleMania 33.
Nikki Bella (Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, now Nikki Garcia)
- Born: November 21, 1983 (Age 42 in 2025)
- Birthplace: San Diego, California, U.S.
- Marital Status: Single (Divorced from Artem Chigvintsev in 2024)
- Children: Matteo Chigvintsev (Son, born 2020)
- Key Career Highlights: WWE Hall of Famer (inducted with twin sister Brie Bella), Two-time WWE Divas Champion, Star of reality shows Total Divas and Total Bellas, Podcast host.
- Relationship with Cena: 2012–2018 (6 years), engagement called off weeks before the wedding.
The Real Reason John Cena and Nikki Bella Ended Their Engagement
The public narrative of their split, which occurred in April 2018 just weeks before their planned destination wedding, was initially shrouded in mystery. However, the true, fundamental reason for the end of their six-year romance has been repeatedly confirmed by both parties: a profound difference in their views on parenthood.
1. Cena’s Unwavering Child-Free Stance Was the Dealbreaker.
John Cena was consistently vocal, both on their reality show Total Bellas and in interviews, about his desire to maintain a child-free lifestyle. His commitment to his career, which requires immense travel and dedication, meant he did not want to be an absent father. While he briefly wavered and offered to reverse his vasectomy to save the relationship, Nikki ultimately realized she would be forcing him to be a father, which was not fair to him or the potential child.
2. Nikki Chose Motherhood Over Marriage to Cena.
Nikki Bella had a deep-seated desire to be a mother, a wish she shared with her twin sister, Brie Bella. The emotional conflict of sacrificing her dream for the sake of the relationship proved too great. The split was a heartbreaking decision, but one that allowed both individuals to eventually pursue the life they truly wanted.
3. The Split Was Filmed for Reality TV, Adding to the Drama.
The entire tumultuous period, from the WrestleMania 33 proposal to the agonizing breakup and subsequent attempt to reconcile, was heavily featured on the E! reality series Total Bellas. This unprecedented public exposure made their split one of the most scrutinized in celebrity history, with many fans questioning if the drama was entirely authentic or partially staged for ratings.
Where Are They Now? Their Shocking Post-Breakup Lives (2025 Update)
Years after the split, both John and Nikki have built new lives, but the paths they took are drastically different, particularly for Nikki, whose recent personal life has been a whirlwind of change.
4. John Cena is Happily Married and Still Child-Free.
John Cena married Canadian engineer Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony in October 2020. The couple is still together as of late 2025, and Cena remains committed to his child-free lifestyle, focusing on his booming Hollywood career. His professional life saw a recent surge of attention when he made a surprise heel turn at the 2025 Elimination Chamber event, a move that Nikki herself commented on publicly, showing they maintain a professional respect.
5. Nikki Bella is Newly Single After a 2024 Divorce.
In a major, recent update, Nikki Bella’s marriage to professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev has ended. After marrying in August 2022 and welcoming their son, Matteo, in 2020, the couple officially divorced in 2024. The separation was finalized after a contentious period that led to a divorce settlement, including Nikki being ordered to pay Artem $3,500 in monthly child support. This development is a complete reversal of the family life she sought when she left Cena, placing her back in the single category as of 2025.
6. The Brief, Seven-Year Reunion at Royal Rumble 2025.
The most recent interaction between the ex-fiancés occurred at the 2025 Royal Rumble. Nikki, now using her real name, Nikki Garcia, detailed the brief reunion on a podcast, confirming that the interaction was cordial and professional. This moment, seven years after their breakup, proves that despite the intense public scrutiny and personal heartbreak, the two WWE Hall of Famers have managed to maintain a level of mutual respect.
The Lasting Legacy and Topical Authority
The story of John Cena and Nikki Bella is more than just a celebrity breakup; it’s a case study in how fundamental differences can derail even the most passionate relationships, especially when amplified by the public eye of reality television and the demanding world of professional wrestling.
7. Their Relationship Remains the Most Defining Storyline of Total Bellas.
Even years later, the arc of their love, engagement, and split is the cornerstone of the *Total Bellas* series and the career of The Bella Twins. The conflict over children, the lavish proposal, and the heartbreaking final decision gave the show a dramatic weight that cemented its place in reality TV history. The show provided a unique, albeit often controversial, look at the private lives of WWE Superstars, featuring key entities like Brie Bella, Daniel Bryan, and the entire WWE roster. Their legacy is one of choosing personal fulfillment over a picture-perfect celebrity marriage, a choice that continues to resonate with fans in late 2025.
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