Nikki Garcia reveals date of divorce from Artem Chigvintsev
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Janet Gough/AFF-USA.COM/MEGANikki Garcia revealed her date of separation from Artem Chigvintsev while filing a divorce petition with the Dancing with the stars pro.
Per court documents obtained by TMZGarcia, 40, listed their split date as August 29 – the same day Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested for domestic battery. She cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their divorce.
The retired WWE star (formerly known as Nikki Bella) asked the court not to award spousal support to either her or Chigvintsev. She also requested sole legal and physical custody of their four-year-old son Matteo.
We weekly confirmed that Garcia filed to annul her and Chigvintsev’s marriage on Wednesday, September 11. The next day, Garcia’s rep said Us in a statement: “Nikki Garcia has filed for divorce. She continues to request privacy for her and her family at this time.”
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev began dating after her broken engagement to ex John Cena, but their romance ended in September 2024. Nearly seven months after Garcia, who once wrestled under the name Nikki Bella, and Cena split for good in July 2018, Us Weekly confirmed that she and Dancing With the Stars […]
The filing came more than a week after Chigvintsev was charged with a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Napa. Bail was set at $25,000 and he was released the afternoon of August 29, according to online jail records. Garcia’s rep said Us in a statement: “This is a private matter and Nikki requests privacy for her and her family at this time.”
The charge falls under California Penal Code section 273.5(a), which states that the incident also involves a person who injured a spouse, cohabitant or co-parent.
After the incident, Napa Valley Sheriff said PIO Henry Wofford told Us that the victim “requested complete confidentiality.” The sheriff added, “We also had the opportunity to speak with the victim and the suspect was arrested without incident.” The sheriff claimed Chigvintsev “was not fighting or combative” during the arrest.
According to a 911 dispatch tape obtained by TMZ Late last month, Chigvintsev initially sought medical attention and accused Garcia of throwing shoes at him.
Before Artem Chigvintsev — who shares son Matteo with the former WWE personality — married Nikki Garcia in August 2022, he dated others in the spotlight before settling down. The Russian-born dancer was part of Burn the Floor and Strictly Come Dancing before joining Dancing With the Stars in season 18 in 2014. […]
“Initially he came in with a medical request, but now he claims that he had an argument with his wife and that his wife threw shoes at rp. [reporting party],” the dispatcher said during the call, noting that “there is a child on site.”
The dispatcher added that “medical en route” and “there is an active 415 [disturbing the peace] responsible in the background.”
Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXMChigvintsev tried to cancel his 911 call by saying he did not need medical attention. “RP says no medical examination is necessary now,” the coordinator said.
An hour later, police arrived on the scene and found a person with visible injuries. It has not been confirmed if Garcia was the victim.
ABC/Craig Sjodin Artem Chigvintsev has been a regular on Dancing With the Stars since 2014. Artem, who previously won Britain’s Strictly Come Dancing with Kara Tointon, was initially asked to join the DWTS group for season 18. The following year, he was tasked with teaching Back to the Future star Lea Thompson how you have to […]
In the wake of Chigvintsev’s arrest, a source shared exclusively in the latest issue of Us that the pair ‘do not live under the same roof’.
“Nikki, [her sister] Brie and their families are too strong to let this slide and allow this type of behavior to be okay,” the insider added, “especially around a child.”
Garcia met while she was a contestant DWTS season 25 in 2017 and was engaged Johannes Cena. (The couple separated the following year.) Garcia and Chigvintsev reconnected and became engaged in January 2020 and married in August 2022.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call the emergency room National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance.
