Nikki Garcia Recounts First Encounter with John Cena After Their Breakup

Nikki Garcia shared details about her initial awkward reunion with John Cena, years after their engagement ended. During an appearance on the “Honestly Cavallari: The Podcast Tour,” she recalled how she encountered Cena at the Royal Rumble in February 2025. Cena was accompanied by his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh, at the time.

According to Garcia, she was casually chatting with people when Cena approached to shake hands. She described the moment as brief but respectful, saying, “I just said, ‘Hello, good to see you. I think last time we were engaged. I don’t know, it’s been a while.’”

The meeting took place roughly seven or eight years after she and Cena called off their engagement. The couple first dated in 2012 after a long platonic friendship, with Cena proposing in 2017 during WrestleMania 33 with a $115,000 ring. Nikki later described the proposal as a fairy-tale moment, calling Cena her “Prince Charming.”

However, their relationship faced challenges, especially regarding having children. Nikki expressed her desire to start a family, which conflicted with Cena’s decision to remain child-free. She explained on the show that she “felt off” after the engagement because of their differing views.

The couple split in July 2018, mainly due to their incompatible visions of the future. According to a source, “Nikki has always dreamed of having a family, but Cena did not want children, which was the primary reason for their breakup.”

Following their break-up, Cena moved on with Shay Shariatzadeh, whom he met during filming in 2019. They married in Florida in October 2020 and keep their married life private. Cena recently spoke about his love for his wife, stating, “My No. 1 passion is my wife.”

Nikki, meanwhile, started dating Artem Chigvintsev, her former Dancing With the Stars partner, in late 2018. They got engaged in 2019, welcomed a son named Matteo in 2020, and married in Paris in August 2022. Their marriage faced turmoil in 2024, leading to Nikki filing for divorce amid allegations of domestic violence—a claim both denied. They eventually settled their divorce and custody issues over their son in late 2024.