Nikki Garcia is detailing her awkward first reunion with John Cena — years after calling off their engagement.
While appearing as a guest on Wednesday’s episode of the “Honestly Cavallari: The Podcast Tour,” the WWE star recalled what it was like seeing her ex at Royal Rumble 2025 in February. At the time, Cena was joined by his wife, Shay Shariatzadeh.
“I was in a circle talking to people. He came to [shake] everyone’s hand,” Garcia told host Kristin Cavallari, noting that the reunion was “very quick” out of “respect” for Cena now being a “married” man.
“We just said, ‘Hello, good to see you. I think last time we were engaged. I don’t know, it’s been a while.’”
According to Garcia, 41, the reunion came about “seven [or] eight years” after she and Cena, 48, called it quits.
The fellow pro wrestlers first started dating in 2012 after years of platonic friendship. Cena later popped the question to Garcia in April 2017 — with a $115K ring on stage at WrestleMania 33.
“My Prince Charming made me his Queen in a place we call home ❤💍 Last night was truly unforgettable. A dream come true! N,” Garcia tweeted following the proposal.
Overtime, however, conversations about children became a huge point of contention for the couple. Fans saw many of their relationship issues play out on “Total Bellas,” the E! show Nikki starred on alongside her twin sister, Brie Garcia.
The pro wrestler — who formerly went by the stage name Nikki Bella — admitted that she “felt off” after the engagement because of her and Cena’s differing views on children. Nikki had a desire to have children, while Cena did not.
“I just know deep down I want a baby,” she said in part, during an episode that aired on Season 2 of the hit series.
The couple called off their engagement in April 2018 and eventually split for good in July of that year.
“Nikki and John truly love each other, but they will never have the same view on a perfect future,” a source told “Entertainment Tonight” at the time. “Nikki has always dreamt of having a family of her own and John does not want children and that was the main cause of their break up.”
Cena has since moved on with Shariatzadeh. The two met while filming 2019’s “Playing with Fire.”
The couple made their red carpet debut at the premiere of the movie and wed in Florida in October 2020.
Although Cena tends to keep the details of their marriage private, he recently shared some rare insight into what life is like with the 36-year-old engineer.
“My No. 1 passion is my wife,” Cena told Extra on Tuesday. “That is the first on the list. I’d say right behind that is my health so I can be the best husband to my wife.”
As for Nikki, she began dating Artem Chigvintsev — whom she met while competing together on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2017 — in late 2018 and confirmed their relationship in July 2019.
The pro dancer and the wrestler got engaged in November 2019. They announced they were expecting their first child in January 2020, welcoming son Matteo months later in August.
After a nearly three-year engagement, the parents tied the knot in Paris, France, in August 2022.
Things took a drastic turn for the couple in 2024, however.
Nikki filed for divorce from Chigvintsev in September of that year, after accusing each other of domestic violence, which both parties vehemently denied.
They settled their divorce — and their messy custody battle — in November 2024.
A rep for the “Barmageddon” host told Page Six at the time that Nikki and Chigvintsev, 43, “decided to drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively co-parent their son.”
Since then, Nikki has spoken briefly about whether she’s ready to begin dating again.
“I can definitely see myself falling in love again,” the retired wrestler told Us Weekly back in March. “I don’t think it’ll be anytime soon.”
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