It still feels weird to talk about. For six years, John Cena and Nikki Bella were the undisputed power couple of the WWE. They weren't just a wrestling duo; they were a massive pop-culture brand, fueled by reality TV cameras and a proposal that happened in front of 75,000 people at WrestleMania 33. Then, suddenly, it was over.
One minute they’re planning a destination wedding, and the next, Nikki is moving out.
Honestly, the split in 2018 felt like a glitch in the matrix for fans who had watched their entire relationship play out on Total Divas. But if you look closely at the details—the 75-page contracts, the "no kids" rule, and the emotional burnout—the writing was on the wall. It wasn't just a "celebrity breakup." It was a slow-motion collision of two people who loved each other but wanted completely different lives.
The 75-Page Elephant in the Room
You’ve probably heard the rumors about the contract. It sounds like something out of a corporate thriller, but it was very real. Before Nikki moved into John’s Florida home, he required her to sign a 75-page document.
Basically, the contract stated she was a "guest" in the house.
If they broke up, she had to leave immediately. John defended it as a way to protect his assets after a messy first divorce from Elizabeth Huberdeau. He compared it to "buying a handgun for home defense"—a failsafe he hoped he'd never use. But for Nikki, it was a constant reminder that the ground beneath her wasn't as solid as it looked on TV.
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A House of Rules
The contract wasn't the only thing. Living with John Cena meant living by a very specific set of rules. We saw this on Total Bellas:
- Formal dinners: Sunday nights were for formal attire and curated conversation.
- Morning routines: Everything was scheduled to the minute.
- Privacy: Nikki wasn't even allowed to take personal photos of him in his own home at one point.
It’s easy to judge from the outside, but John was always upfront. He liked his life a certain way. He was driven, ambitious, and, by his own admission, a bit selfish. He told her from day one that marriage and children weren't on the menu.
The problem? Nikki thought she could change him.
Why John Cena and Nikki Bella Actually Split
The "kids" conversation is what ultimately killed the relationship. Nikki wanted to be a mother. John, fearing he would be an "absentee father" due to his insane work schedule, stood firm on his choice to remain child-free.
As they got closer to their May 2018 wedding date, the reality of that sacrifice started to crush Nikki. She later wrote in her memoir, Incomparable, that she felt like she was "sitting in a jail cell" she had built for herself. She had suppressed her own desires for so long that she eventually lost her voice.
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The WrestleMania Proposal Mistake
Looking back, the ring proposal was almost the beginning of the end. While the world cheered, the pressure intensified. John finally gave in on the marriage front, and eventually, in a last-ditch effort to save the relationship, he even offered to reverse his vasectomy.
But it was too late.
Nikki realized that if she had to force him or "break him down" to get what she wanted, it wouldn't be a happy home. You can't negotiate a human being into wanting a family. She walked away just weeks before the wedding because she didn't want him to regret her—or a child—later in life.
Where Are They Now? (2026 Update)
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed significantly. John Cena is currently in the middle of his 2025-2026 WWE Retirement Tour. He’s officially hanging up the jorts, transitioning fully into his Hollywood career which has exploded with hits like Peacemaker.
He’s been happily married to engineer Shay Shariatzadeh since 2020. Interestingly, reports from US Weekly in late 2025 suggested that John might finally be warming up to the idea of fatherhood with Shay, proving that sometimes it’s about the right timing and the right partner rather than a hard "no" forever.
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Nikki's New Chapter
Nikki’s journey has been a bit more turbulent. She got exactly what she wanted: she became a mother to her son, Matteo, in 2020. She married her Dancing with the Stars partner Artem Chigvintsev in 2022, but that fairytale ended in a very public and messy divorce in 2024 following a domestic dispute.
As of early 2026, Nikki has been making headlines for a "casual" romance with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean. There’s a 20-year age gap there that has the internet buzzing, but those close to her say she’s just enjoying her independence. She also made a surprising appearance at the 2025 Royal Rumble, where she and John reportedly had a very cordial, professional meeting backstage. No drama, just two exes who have finally found their separate versions of peace.
Lessons from the Bella-Cena Saga
If you’re going through a relationship where you’re waiting for someone to change, take a page out of this book. Love is rarely enough to bridge the gap between "I want kids" and "I don't."
What you can do next:
- Audit your non-negotiables: If you want children and your partner doesn't, stop assuming they will change their mind. It leads to resentment, not a nursery.
- Watch the "Total Bellas" archives: If you want to see the red flags in real-time, the early seasons are a masterclass in "fundamental incompatibility."
- Respect the "No": John was honest from the start. Nikki's biggest regret wasn't the breakup; it was not listening to him the first time he said who he was.
The story of John Cena and Nikki Bella serves as a permanent reminder that you can have all the fame and money in the world, but if your core values don't align, the 75-page contract won't save you.
Actionable Insight: If you find yourself "stuffing your needs deep down" to keep a relationship alive, it’s time for a hard conversation. Real compatibility doesn't require you to delete your own dreams.