Nikki Garcia, known for her strength both in and out of the wrestling ring alongside her sister Brie as part of the famed Bella Twins, is facing a new chapter in her life—this time off-screen.
The former WWE star filed for divorce from husband Artem Chigvintsev on Sept. 11, just days after his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence in Napa, California, where the couple has a home. The filing cited irreconcilable differences, with Nikki seeking full legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old son, Matteo.
The split comes shortly after Nikki and Artem celebrated their second wedding anniversary on Aug. 26 with heartfelt Instagram tributes to each other. However, their relationship quickly took a dramatic turn when Artem was arrested just three days later.
Though the case was dropped on Sept. 24, with prosecutors stating that there was insufficient evidence to press charges, Nikki had already taken legal action.
While Artem has filed for joint custody, the two have made it clear that they want to handle the divorce proceedings privately. Despite the intense public attention surrounding their separation, both Nikki and Artem are focused on co-parenting Matteo.
In the midst of this personal upheaval, Nikki has remained resilient, even making a public appearance just days after Artem’s arrest. She co-hosted Netflix’s live “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef” hotdog-eating event with Rob Riggle on Sept. 7, thanking the crowd for their support and rallying through the difficult time.
Nikki has since taken a step back from her podcast, The Nikki & Brie Show, with her sister Brie stepping in to update listeners on Nikki’s situation. On the Sept. 23 episode, Brie assured fans that Nikki was focused on moving forward and spending time with Matteo, thanking everyone for their continued support.
Brie has been a constant source of strength for Nikki, both publicly and privately, even posting a cryptic message on Instagram that seemed to address the legal situation: “The truth always comes out in the end.”
Despite the turmoil, Nikki is determined to keep moving forward, focusing on her son and what’s best for her family. Her candidness about the challenges of motherhood and marriage, especially in the public eye, has always resonated with her fans.
In a July 2023 interview with E! News, Nikki opened up about the difficulties of blending marriage and parenting, especially after having a child first and marrying later.
As the Bella Twins prepare for their return to the podcast, fans are likely to hear more from Nikki about her next steps.
For now, she’s taking time to heal, supported by her sister and focusing on what matters most—her son, Matteo, and their future together.
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