On February 1, 2025, Nikki Garcia, also known as Nikki Bella, made a spectacular comeback at WWE’s annual event, the Royal Rumble, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. This was her first public appearance after finalizing her divorce from her ex-husband, Artem Chigvintsev, in November 2024.
Nikki received a thunderous welcome as she entered the ring. She confidently walked down a long catwalk, waving her hands in the air, and even performed a few dance moves. She then removed her jacket to reveal a red wrestling outfit, which further electrified the audience.
A commentator exclaimed, “The WWE Hall of Famer, one of the bravest women in the world… Nikki Bella is back! After three years, Nikki Bella is here at the Royal Rumble. This is a historic moment for WWE.”
YOU CAN LOOK, BUT YOU CAN'T TOUCH!
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2025
WWE Hall of Famer NIKKI BELLA is entrant number 30!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/XJUf6veXUn
This marked Nikki’s second public appearance following her divorce. Nikki and Artem had filed for divorce in September 2024, just weeks after Artem was accused of domestic violence. However, no criminal charges were filed against him. In November 2024, the couple finalized their divorce through private mediation.
After the divorce, Nikki opened up about her life on her podcast, The Nikki & Brie Show. She said, “I disconnected from social media and the world because my top priority was my son, Matteo. His safety and privacy are the most important to me. I took time to heal and process my pain. It was a very tough phase. I was heartbroken. You dream of having a family and a great love story, but sometimes things go the opposite way.”
Nikki also shared that she tried to handle the situation as best as she could, despite being in immense pain, to ensure her son remained safe and happy. She said, “I tried to handle this situation in the right way, even though I was hurting. I did what I thought was best for everyone.”
Nikki and Artem first met on Dancing with the Stars, though Nikki was in a relationship with John Cena at the time. They reconnected a few months later and got engaged in 2019. They married in 2022, but their relationship ended in 2024.
Nikki Bella’s return is a big moment for her fans. She has proven that she can face any challenge head-on and continue to move forward in her career with determination and passion.
