Nikki GarciaFormerly known as Nikki Bella, becomes frank on her brief but emotional meeting with the former fiancé John CenaTheir first meeting since they canceled their commitment in 2018.

The WWE star and the “Total Bellas” alum thought at the moment during a recent appearance on the Podcast “honestly Cavallari”, organized by Kristin Cavallari.

The episode, recorded in March during the Podcast tour of Cavallari, featured Nikki Garcia and his twin sister Brie as guests and revealed that the long-awaited run-in had taken place behind the scenes of the Royal Rumble 2025 in February.

“It was very fast,” recalls Nikki. “Out of respect,” she added, referring to the fact that Cena is now a married man. The “peaceful” actor married Shay Shariatzadeh in 2020.

“I was in a circle talking to people. He came [shake] everyone’s hand. He shook my hand, ”she explained. Kristin expressed his surprise that the old flames do not share a hug, but Nikki confirmed that the interaction was brief and formal.

“We just said:” Hello, delighted to see you. I think the last time we were engaged? I don’t know, it’s been a moment “”, said Nikki laughing. “But the fact was that when he moved away, all the girls were like” Oh my God “. I say to myself: ‘Shh, Shh. And that was everything.

Despite the short exchange, Nikki described the meeting as a positive step. “It was great because [it] broken the ice. We are simply back at the same time. It is a good feeling.

Cavallari teased with playfulness: “Everyone wants you to be together”, inciting Nikki to stop him quickly, “Oh, my God. Oh, the next question!”

Nikki and John began to go out together in 2012, but their relationship, although full of public moments, had its challenges.

Before moving together, John would have had Nikki signed a 75 -page contract with strict lifestyle conditions, in particular by being labeled “guest” at home. The couple got engaged to Wrestlemania 33 in 2017, but finally canceled their wedding, initially scheduled for May 2018.

In a statement at the time, the couple said: “Although this decision was difficult, we continue to have a lot of love and respect for each other.”

They briefly tried to reconcile that summer, but in July 2018, Nikki confirmed that the relationship was officially over. “After a lot of time and soul creation … I know that is what is best for me,” she said US Weekly.

Since then, Nikki has continued and has built his own family.

She welcomed her son, Matteo, in 2020 with a professional dancer Artem Chigvintsevthat she met during “Dancing with the Stars”. The two were married in 2022, but the marriage ended two years later in the midst of a public and difficult divorce.

The split followed the arrest of Artem in 2024 suspected of domestic violence, although no accusation had been filed, and led to a court order for Nikki to pay $ 200,000 in alimony for spouses, plus $ 3,500 per month of alimony for children.

“Yes, I had to give it $ 200,000,” confirmed Nikki. “Support of the spouse, alimony. Our judge said in the end:” It is the first time in all the years that I have made of that where a woman had to pay a man. You should be so proud that you have built such an empire that someone wants a song. “”

The altercation would have taken place at their home in Napa and started at an apparently minor disagreement: to make the English muffin of their son Matteo “a little more crisp”.

According to Nikki, the conversation quickly intensified, with Chigvintsev howling, blaming her for Matteo being a “difficult eater” and refusing to let her speak. Feeling overwhelmed, Garcia said she tried to defuse by leaving to pack the personal effects of her son in the car.