It was the proposal heard 'round the world. Or at least, around the Camping World Stadium in Orlando. When John Cena dropped to one knee at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 to ask Nikki Bella to marry him, it felt like the ultimate "face" move. Fans were screaming. The diamond was massive. It looked like the kind of ending you only get in movies or scripted wrestling storylines.
But real life doesn't always follow the script.
By 2018, the dream was dead. The wedding was canceled. People were shocked, then they were confused, and then they were kinda annoyed when the breakup played out over several seasons of Total Bellas. Honestly, looking back from 2026, the Nikki Bella John Cena era feels like a fever dream of reality TV contracts and fundamental lifestyle clashes that were destined to blow up eventually.
The 75-Page Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about Nikki Bella John Cena without talking about the house rules. When Nikki first moved into Cena’s mansion in 2013, he didn’t just give her a key. He gave her a 75-page cohabitation agreement.
Think about that for a second.
The document basically stated she was a "guest" in his home. If they broke up, she had to leave immediately with her stuff. Cena defended it as protecting his assets after a messy divorce from his first wife, Elizabeth Huberdeau. But for viewers watching Total Divas, it felt cold. It set a tone. It showed that while Nikki was all-in on "us," John was very much focused on "me and my stuff."
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Cena’s life was a machine. He was the face of the WWE, a blossoming movie star, and a man who liked his morning coffee exactly the same way every single day. Nikki, meanwhile, was trying to find where she fit into that machine without getting crushed by the gears.
Why the WrestleMania Engagement Wasn't Enough
For years, Cena was the guy who said "never." Never getting married again. Never having kids. Then, suddenly, he’s proposing in front of 75,000 people.
What changed?
Basically, he realized he didn't want to lose her. But here's the kicker: he changed his mind on the wedding, but he didn't really change his heart on the family. Nikki wanted to be a mom. She’s been vocal about that since the beginning. She even tried to convince herself she could live without it just to be with him. She told People magazine at one point that she’d be the "greatest aunt ever" and that was enough.
It wasn't enough.
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The "time bomb" Cena mentioned in 2014 finally went off. Even after he eventually offered to reverse his vasectomy to keep her, Nikki could see the writing on the wall. She didn't want a husband who was "relenting" to fatherhood; she wanted a partner who craved it. In her 2020 memoir Incomparable, she admitted she was "suffocating" herself to fit into his life.
The Breakup(s) and the Reality TV Fallout
The split wasn't a clean break. It was messy. They called off the wedding in April 2018, just weeks before they were supposed to head to Mexico for the ceremony. Then they tried to reconcile. Then they broke up again.
Critics at the time called it a publicity stunt for Total Bellas ratings. It's easy to see why. Every tearful conversation was captured by E! cameras. But if you look at the raw emotion in those episodes, it’s hard to fake that kind of exhaustion. Nikki looked spent. She was tired of fighting for a version of a life that John simply didn't want to live.
Where They Are Now: Different Paths in 2026
Fast forward to today. The dust hasn't just settled; it’s been swept away.
- John Cena found his "happily ever after" with Shay Shariatzadeh. They got married in 2020 in a private ceremony that was the polar opposite of his public life with Nikki. He seems content with his child-free lifestyle and his massive Hollywood career.
- Nikki Bella (now Nikki Garcia) finally got the family she wanted. She married Artem Chigvintsev and had her son, Matteo. Though her marriage to Artem ended in a 2024 divorce following some very public legal turmoil, she got the one thing she refused to sacrifice for Cena: motherhood.
Interestingly, they’ve managed to keep things cordial. Nikki even mentioned a "respectful" backstage meeting at the 2025 Royal Rumble. No drama, no flying chairs—just two people who realize they were right for each other for a season, but wrong for each other for a lifetime.
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What We Can Learn from the Cena-Bella Saga
If there's a lesson in the Nikki Bella John Cena relationship, it's that you can't compromise on your "non-negotiables." You can't love someone into wanting a different life.
If you're in a spot where you're "stuffing your needs down" to keep someone else happy, take a page out of Nikki’s book—even if it takes six years and a canceled wedding to get there. It’s better to be alone (or on a different path) than to be with someone and lose yourself.
Moving Forward: How to Handle Your Own "Dealbreakers"
- Audit your "must-haves": If you want kids and your partner doesn't, believe them the first time they say it. Don't wait for a "WrestleMania moment" to change their mind.
- Watch for the "Power Imbalance": If you're signing 75-page contracts just to move in, ask yourself if you're a partner or an employee.
- Trust the "Exhaustion": If trying to make a relationship work feels like a second full-time job, it might be time to clock out for good.
The story of Nikki and John isn't a tragedy. It’s a case study in compatibility. Sometimes, two great people just want two different worlds. And that's okay.
To stay updated on how both stars are navigating their post-WWE lives, you can follow their official social media channels or catch Nikki’s latest projects under the Garcia Twins brand. Knowing your own boundaries is the first step toward a relationship that doesn't require a 75-page manual to survive.