Tag: nikki bella

Nikki Bella ‘heartbroken’ over divorce: ‘It’s been a struggle’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki Garcia (FKA Nikki Bella) opened up about her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev on the latest Nikki & Brie Show episode. 

In late August, Chigvintsev was arrested on domestic violence charges at a home the couple formerly shared in Napa Valley. Garcia and Chigvintsev agreed to a divorce settlement last month, sharing custody of their four-year-old son, Matteo. Charges against Chigvintsev were dropped in September.

Garcia returned to the podcast she co-hosts with her sister on Monday’s episode. She told Brie that her absence was due to wanting privacy for her son and needing time to heal. 

Nikki said:

“I needed to disconnect because first things first, I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important. So, I was going to do whatever it took for that, most importantly, and then just needing space for healing, for facing trauma head on.”

“It’s been really tough. I’ve been heartbroken, sad. You know, you dream of having this family and you have this incredible love and it just goes the other way. And you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one. I never saw any of it coming as far as what the ending would be. It’s been a struggle.”

“I know being a public figure, I have to say a little bit about this. And after this, I don’t want to ever talk about it again because I truly do want privacy for Matteo, that has been the most important part. But obviously, I’ve had a public relationship, I’m a public figure, so I have to talk about what’s gone on a little bit.”

Nikki also said that she played it up in public as if her relationship with Chigvintsev was stronger than it was. She explained:

“I wanted (Chigvintsev) to be the best version of themselves, because also that’s what my son deserves. I don’t want to drag my son’s dad because I want my son to have the greatest dad ever because that’s what Matteo deserves.”

“I really played it up like things were a lot better than what they were in the public eye, which I have regrets in that because what I felt was if I could just put this person on a pedestal and maybe if this person hears it enough what I believe in them, they can believe that in themselves.”

Brie asked if Nikki was trying to show her fans that she had a “fairytale relationship.”

“That, yes, and I didn’t want to have another failed public relationship,” Nikki responded. “And more than any of that, I wanted it for Matteo. It always comes back to him. You fight for your kids, you want to stick together because that’s what the kids want. And I tried really hard.”

Brie also mentioned during the podcast that she advised Nikki to end the relationship multiple times before Chigvintsev’s arrest in August. 

The couple shares custody of Matteo, and Nikki is learning to deal with her son leaving to spend time with his father. 

“I never thought I would be in this place as a co-parent. It’s tough. I miss Matteo, oh my goodness. Those first few times in my house, just think, I’ve never been in the home without him. Really, really hard. Very emotional. Even yesterday. I cry every time he leaves.”

“So, that’s been hard but we’re doing a great job at it. We’re both very focused on Matteo and that’s the great thing. And I do think in time – I pray, I pray everyday we’ll be great friends, we’ll be able to share holidays together. I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon but I pray for it because again, that’s what Matteo deserves.”

The full podcast is available below:

Nikki Garcia & Artem Chigvintsev agree to divorce settlement

Posted on by Josh Nason

After a tumultuous 2024 and two weeks before it was set to go to trial, Nikki Garcia (seen above) and Artem Chigvintsev settled their divorce via mediation earlier this month.

The news was first reported by TMZ with no terms disclosed. At one point, Chigvintsev was seeking spousal support with the former Nikki Bella requesting to block the court’s ability to award it. It’s unknown if that was settled.

The restraining orders each had filed against each other have also been dropped. They agreed to shared custody of their four-year-old son earlier this year.

Bella filed for divorce in September of this year after Chigvintsev was arrested in late-August at their home on domestic violence charges. Charges were dropped in late-September after the Napa County (California) District Attorney stated among other things “…we have an ethical obligation to only file charges when supported by the evidence.”

Chigvintsev was not asked back to his role on Dancing with the Stars after the arrest with his attorney saying they are hopeful he can return for the next season. He was invited by an executive producer to be part of the studio audience for last week’s 500th episode.

Brie Bella confirms mother Kathy Colace’s divorce from John Laurinaitis

Posted on by Ian Carey

Kathy Colace has divorced John Laurinaitis.

Laurinaitis and Colace (mother of Nikki & Brie Garcia, FKA the Bella Twins) were married in 2016 after becoming engaged the previous year. In January, former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Laurinaitis, as well as WWE and Vince McMahon, alleging misconduct, including claims of sexual abuse and human trafficking.

Laurinaitis was officially let go from WWE in August 2022, amid the lawsuit, after being with the company for 21 years.

Colace was a guest on a recent episode of The Nikki & Brie Show and Brie confirmed that her mother is no longer married.

“Is it fine to tell everyone that you’re divorced?” Brie asked Colace on the show. “She’s not ‘single ready to mingle’ by no means. She is, I feel like, enjoying her independent time. But people, I think, are curious just to know where you’re at.”

Colace responded:

“I’ll tell you how the experience is from someone that goes through it. You need time, you need silence. And this goes for anyone, we all have our stories, we all have our challenges. So, my thought is this, let yourself feel every emotion because one day life is fine and the next day you’re hit with something that just rocks your world.”

“As a person going through it, you need to feel anger and heartbreak and sadness and recovery. Our body is made to feel emotion and when you tuck an emotion away, it will find its way out. So my recommendation to anyone going through anything challenging: Give yourself some grace, allow yourself to feel all the emotions that you will feel, and sit in silence and appreciate yourself because you will get through this. And if you need outside help to get through it, seek outside help.”

Earlier this year, Brie’s husband Bryan Danielson hinted at Laurinaitis and Colace’s separation during an interview with Gorilla Position. When asked about the allegations against McMahon and Laurinaitis, he responded

“There’s not a lot I want to say about it, honestly, other than — because it’s not just the Vince piece, it’s also my father-in-law, maybe ex-father-in-law, as far as that kind of stuff goes. It’s just, you know, you think of somebody in some way, and then something happens and it changes. And that’s always hard.”

The full episode of The Nikki & Brie Show is available below.

Nikki Bella files for divorce after husband’s domestic violence arrest

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia, formerly known as Nikki Bella, has filed for divorce in the wake of her husband’s arrest for domestic violence.

TMZ reports that Garcia filed for divorce on Wednesday, two weeks after her husband Artem Chigvintsev was arrested for felony corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant following a domestic incident between the two. The outlet reports that Garcia has retained divorce attorney Evan Craig Itzkowitz for the proceedings.

Chigvintsev originally called 911 to report an injury, then called back to cancel the request for paramedics. Police still responded to the scene and arrested Chigvintsev after observing visible injuries to Garcia.

TMZ reported on September 3 that Garcia had already contacted attorneys and was looking to start divorce proceedings.

TMZ also reports that Garcia is living in the couple’s home in Napa Valley in California, while Chigvintsev is staying elsewhere.

Garcia and Chigvintsev have been together since 2018, and married since 2022. The couple have a four year-old son together.

Wrestling Observer Live: Odyssey Jones update, Nikki Garcia filing for divorce, WWE Raw report

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: WWE

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including what happened to Odyssey Jones and WWE, Nikki Garcia filing for divorce, AEW & NXT lineups, the WWE Raw report, tons of news and more.

A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Nikki Bella contacts divorce lawyers in wake of husband’s domestic violence arrest

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki Garcia, FKA as Nikki Bella, is reportedly taking steps to divorce Artem Chigvintsev.

TMZ reports that Garcia has contacted divorce lawyers in the wake of Chigvintsev’s arrest for domestic violence last week.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Nikki has been making calls since Friday, and we’re told her intention is to file to end her marriage,” the outlet wrote.

The report continued to state that Chigvintsev is currently staying with a friend and not in the family home he shares with Garcia and the couple’s four-year-old son Matteo.

On Monday, Garcia appeared on Netflix’s “Unfinished Beef” hot dog eating contest and Bodyslam’s Stephanie Hypes noted she was not wearing her wedding ring during the broadcast.

Chigvintsev was arrested Thursday morning after authorities responded to a 911 call at approximately 10 AM local time in Yountville, California. He was later booked for felony corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, although Garcia has not been confirmed as the victim. Chigvintsev’s bail was set at $25,000, which he has since posted.

According to audio files obtained by TMZ, Chigvintsev called 911 requesting medical assistance but would later call back to cancel. He noted during the call that his wife had thrown shoes at him.

Paramedics turned back after he canceled but police showed up at the address and “observed obvious injuries on the victim’s body” leading to Chigvintsev’s arrest.

Garcia’s team released a statement through US Weekly on Friday, saying, “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

Nikki Garcia releases statement following husband’s domestic violence arrest

Posted on by Josh Nason

A rep for former WWE star Nikki Garcia has released her first statement since her husband Artem Chingvintsev’s arrest Thursday on domestic violence charges where injuries were reportedly involved.

From US Weekly, the statement reads, “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

It is unknown if Garcia, the former Nikki Bella in WWE, is a victim as the Napa County (California) Sheriff’s office stated Thursday that “the victim in the case has asked for total confidentiality.”

The alleged incident(s) took place Thursday morning as local authorities responded to a domestic violence call at a location in Yountville. Chingvintsev was arrested and later booked on a felony domestic violence charge with bail set at $25,000.

TMZ reported Friday that Chingvintsev called 911 and requested medical assistance, claiming Garcia threw shoes at him. He then called back and tried to cancel the call, saying he no longer needed medical help. Police still showed up at their home within an hour, arresting him without incident.

The two celebrated their second wedding anniversary this week after being married in 2022, first meeting on Dancing with the Stars in 2019. They share a four-year-old son.

Nikki Garcia’s husband Artem Chigvintsev arrested on domestic violence charges

Posted on by Josh Nason

The husband of former WWE star Nikki Garcia was arrested Thursday on domestic violence charges in Yountville, California.

TMZ first reported the news, adding that “the victim in the case has asked for total confidentiality” according to the Napa County Sheriff’s office. As of this writing, it is unknown if she is the victim.

According to the report, local authorities responded to a domestic violence call before 10 AM local time Thursday at a location in Yountville. That is where Artem Chingvintsev of Dancing with the Stars fame was arrested and later booked on a felony domestic violence charge with bail set at $25,000. Injuries were reportedly involved.

Garcia, formerly Nikki Bella in WWE, was in Napa as recently as Wednesday according to her Instagram account. The two celebrated their second wedding anniversary this week after being married in 2022, first meeting on the DWTS show in 2019.

They share a four-year-old son.

Nikki Bella was ‘in awe’ of Mariah May vs. Toni Storm at AEW All In

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki Bella gave her thoughts on AEW All In during the latest episode of her podcast.

Nikki hosted the Nikki & Brie Show solo this week as Brie was traveling with Bryan Danielson and the kids home from London. During the show, Nikki mentioned that Sunday was the first time she let her four-year-old son Matteo watch wrestling.

Nikki said:

“The girls got on the screen so I was like, ‘Teo, come watch what Mommy used to do,'” she said. “And it was really cute because it was Toni Storm vs. Mariah May and he was just in awe from their entrances and he was watching them wrestle.”

“I found myself cheering on Mariah May and Teo wanted Toni Storm so we were just having this fun little moment.”

She continued to say that Matteo was excited to see his uncle, Bryan Danielson, on the screen but was a little concerned about seeing him bleed. Nikki says she told Matteo that it was just ketchup on his uncle’s face.

Nikki watched all four hours of the AEW All In pay-per-view and says she was “in awe” of the show, specifically mentioning the match between Storm and May.

“I was just in awe of so many of the wrestlers and the performances at All In. Toni Storm and Mariah May, there is a women’s match to watch if you’re not like a wrestling fan but maybe you’re like ‘I want to watch something.’ Their match from AEW All In was so incredible. The storytelling, the moves, I was just in awe of those women.”

Nikki has mentioned previously on her podcast that she has considered returning to the ring for AEW. However, she says that having a young child at home is what prevents her from doing so.

“I go, ‘Brie, so I think I can do it for a year. I can do it from here to here, I can go every week, I can be good and then I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like this is it, I’m going to call Tony Khan, I’m your girl, I can commit, and then I was like I can’t do that to my son right now, like, he needs me.”

The full podcast episode is available below:

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella cast on ‘The Traitors’ reality show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia (Nikki Bella) is set to be featured on one of reality television’s hottest shows.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Garcia is among the cast members for season three of “The Traitors,” a murder mystery-inspired reality series that airs on Peacock. The new season is listed as coming soon, but a premiere date has not been announced.

“The Traitors” is hosted by actor Alan Cumming and is filmed at a castle in Scotland. A group of cast members are designated as Traitors and must work to eliminate everyone else from the show. The rest are designated as Faithfuls and need to figure out who the Traitors are. Contestants are competing for a maximum grand prize of $250,000. They are also paid for being on the show.

Other members of the season three cast include “Survivor” winners Rob Mariano, Tony Vlachos & Jeremy Collins, “Big Brother” legends Danielle Reyes & Britney Haynes, and Tom Sandoval from “Vanderpump Rules.” There are 21 contestants in total.

Garcia and her twin sister Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class. In March 2023, Nikki & Brie announced that they were no longer with WWE and would be going by Nikki Garcia & Brie Garcia going forward. The sisters host a podcast together.

The last time Nikki & Brie competed in the ring was as entrants in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble. They haven’t ruled out returning in the future, though they don’t know which promotion they would wrestle for. Nikki has said that, if she does wrestle again, it would be when her son Matteo gets older.

Nikki Bella considered joining AEW after seeing Mercedes Mone debut

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki Bella says she recently considered a return to wrestling. 

On the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki mentioned how the twins will get into a “wrestling mindset” when lifting weights and sometimes think about returning to the ring.  

Nikki said:

Since you and I have been lifting so much, we always say, we start to get that wrestling mindset. Like, ‘We’re going to go back and do this story, and cut this promo..’ You get it but like how serious I got where I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do maybe a year at AEW and I could do it every week.’

Nikki continued to say that watching Mercedes Mone debut in AEW had her deliberating about reaching out to Tony Khan. 

When I saw Mercedes debut and cut her promo and that line stuck with me, ‘Here we can make our evolution worldwide.’ 

It goes into many leagues, is what she means. It doesn’t have to be at one place, it could be at all the places where all these women are wrestling at. 

However, Nikki concluded that she was not willing to take time away from her young son, Matteo.

Nikki continued:

Wasn’t I talking to you? I go,”Brie, so I think I can do it for a year. I can do it from here to here, I can go every week, I can be good and then I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like this is it, I’m going to call Tony Khan, I’m your girl, I can commit, and then I was like I can’t do that to my son right now, like, he needs me. 

Brie added:

When you told me you were thinking that, I was like please don’t ask me to be your tag partner because my husband is gone all the time, I am the one who is home with the kids. My thing is that how much I would love to do it, when I have to think of reality, the schedule does not work with my life right now. 

The former Bella Twins officially left WWE in March 2023, and now go by Nikki Garcia and Brie Garcia. Neither has wrestled since the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

Nikki Garcia says former Bella Twins ‘are not going to AEW’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki & Brie Garcia are not going to AEW. 

In the wake of yesterday’s news that the former Bella Twins have left WWE, Nikki Garcia revealed today that the sisters will not be signing with AEW. 

During an Instagram Live chat on Wednesday, Nikki addressed having been backstage at an AEW event recently. 

Nikki said: 

We are not going to AEW. I know, I’ve seen a lot of that because, I think, we were just there visiting Renee and Paige. 

She continued to explain that they were also backstage at the show so Nikki’s son could see her uncle, AEW’s Bryan Danielson. 

Nikki continued:

I was like, I haven’t had the opportunity to take Matteo backstage to a wrestling event and when he knew uncle Bryan was going to be there, Matteo loves his uncle Bryan, Brie and I were like, we have to go see Bryan. The kids had so much fun. 

A social media exchange with Britt Baker may have also led to speculation regarding the Garcia Twins and AEW. 

Nikki and Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2020, although the ceremony was delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both are former Divas Champions, with Nikki having held the title twice and Brie once. Nikki is currently serving as host of the show Barmageddon along with Blake Shelton and Carson Daly. 

We’re Live, Pal: Rey vs. Dominik, new AEW show, Bellas no more

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

It’s a brand new We’re Live, Pal! as Andrew Zarian and I talk the latest wrestling news, joined this week by Mike Gilbert, host of the podcast Brace for Impact. 

We opened talking about the news Andrew broke concerning a possible new AEW TV show on one of the Warner Bros. Discovery networks. Andrew also talked about going to Sunday’s WWE house show at Madison Square Garden.

Then, we looked at two of the current WWE storylines with a direct road to WrestleMania; Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio, and Edge vs. Finn Balor in Hell in a Cell. 

Finally, we took a look at the latest news that Brie and Nikki are no longer calling themselves Bellas. 

You can watch the show above or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts in addition to the link below.

Click Here To Listen for free 

Nikki & Brie Bella leaving WWE, starting new chapter as The Garcia Twins

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nikki and Brie Bella are departing WWE and starting a new chapter.

After speculation began when they changed the names of their social media accounts on Tuesday, People confirmed that Nikki and Brie are leaving WWE. They’ll be going by the names Nikki Garcia and Brie Garcia going forward. Together, they’ll be known as The Garcia Twins.

The Bellas’ SiriusXM podcast has changed its name to The Nikki & Brie Show. In a clip from the show, Nikki and Brie spoke about their WWE departure.

“When our contract came up with WWE — mutually we all knew, we just needed to head into this new chapter,” Nikki said.

Nikki and Brie also posted a social media teaser about their new chapter.

“This next chapter of our lives is about taking it to the next level,” the teaser said. “Owning who we are. Being unapologetically us. And fiercely walking through that open door.”

Garcia is part of Nikki and Brie’s real last name. The “Nikki Bella,” “Brie Bella,” and “Bella Twins” trademarks are owned by WWE.

Nikki and Brie were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020.

The Bellas were originally advertised for Raw’s 30th anniversary episode this January but didn’t end up appearing. They did an Instagram Live video on the night of the show where they called out WWE for its lack of women’s evolution representation on the anniversary special.

“Nikki Bella Says I Do,” a four-part E! series about Nikki’s wedding to Artem Chigvintsev, recently finished airing. WWE was involved with producing that series.

Nikki Bella says ‘Total Divas’ was the first thing WWE couldn’t control

Posted on by Ian Carey

Nikki Bella felt some resentment within WWE regarding the success of Total Divas. 

The 39-year-old appeared on an episode of The Sessions with Renee Paquette released Tuesday. During the discussion, she noted that she felt WWE wasn’t supportive of the success the Bellas were having in the reality television world. Nikki even said that when she and Brie won the Diva of the Year, the twins were yelled at in the back after accepting the award. 

Nikki said:

Total Divas should have been praised even more. 

What we were doing was insane, we literally were at the point of almost beating the Kardashians in the ratings. We were shaking the world up, what a great time. We could have had the industry behind us but instead they used it to turn it against us. 

Nikki continued:

As far as the boss, I felt it was the first time he lost control of what he could make and not make because when Brie and I won Diva of the Year, we got in trouble, and I got yelled at.

We came back so happy and it was like, ‘Oh, because you brought in all these new viewers and the women are voting for you and all these new women are here..’

Everyone around was on the floor like, ‘The Bella Twins are getting yelled at for being successful’ because it wasn’t what they wanted because they were the storytellers, they push who they want the crowd to be behind. Perception is reality, that is WWE to a T. 

Even though the fans think they own it, no, they laugh in the back, ‘No, we own you at the end of the day.’ So, I truly believe Total Divas was the first thing they couldn’t control. 

Nikki was a cast member of Total Divas from Seasons one through eight and also appeared as a guest on the ninth and final season. She then starred in and was an executive producer for six seasons of Total Bellas along with her sister. She has appeared as a judge on America’s Got Talent, hosts Barmageddon, and stars in her own reality series, Nikki Bella Says I Do. Nikki and Brie Bella were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2020.