Nikki Garcia Files for Divorce from Artem Chigvintsev Following His Arrest for Domestic Violence

Mar. 15, 2025

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Nikki Garciahas filed for divorce fromArtem Chigvintsevafter two years of marriage.

The filing comes nearly two weeks after Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested on a charge of corporal injury to a spouse and hours after a source told PEOPLE thatGarcia had obtained a divorce lawyer.

PEOPLE has reached out to Chigvintsev’s rep for comment. However, Garcia’s rep confirmed the divorce news to PEOPLE, saying, “Nikki Garcia has filed for divorce. She continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

TMZwas the first to report the news.

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia in July 2019.MediaPunch/Shutterstock

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

At the time, a rep for Garcia told PEOPLE, “This is a private matter and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

Rumors about their split continued to grow after when Garcia was spotted without her wedding ring while making herfirst public appearanceat Netflix’sChestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, a live hot dog eating competition she co-hosted with Rob Riggle on Sept. 2.

Nikki Bella, Artem Chigvintsev and their son Matteo.Nikki Bella/Instagram

Nikki Bella/Instagram

Just two days before the incident, the couple celebrated theirsecond wedding anniversarywith post shared to their respective Instagram accounts.

“Happy anniversary my love, can’t see my life with out you,” Chigvintsev, 42, wrote onInstagramalongside photos from their wedding day. “You are my everything ❤️”

The retired WWE star, 40, also looked back at the couple’s love story on their anniversary as she shared the lyrics toElvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

“This song is our love story,” she wrote alongside a video from their wedding day. “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on.”

“And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. 🙏🏼✨,” she continued.

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Garcia and Chigvintsev met in 2017 when they werepaired togetheron season 25 ofDancing with the Stars, although the retired WWE wrestler was engaged toJohn Cenaat the time. In July 2018, Garcia and Cena officiallyended their relationshipafter six years together.

TheDWTSpairreconnectedlater that year and made theirrelationship Instagram officialin March 2019. Since then, Garcia and Chigvintsev have celebrated several milestones together: They gotengagedin November 2019,welcomed sonMatteo in July 2020 and said, “I do” in August 2022.

source: people.com