Nikki Garcia, known to fans as WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella, has opened up about her difficult breakup with Artem Chigvintsev in an emotional return to her podcast with twin sister Brie Garcia aka Brie Bella.
The couple, who share a 4-year-old son, Matteo, recently filed for divorce after a domestic violence incident in August that resulted in Artem’s arrest on a felony charge. Both Nikki and Artem have since been granted restraining orders against each other.
In her heartfelt remarks, Nikki reflected on the challenges of the split and her commitment to protecting Matteo. “I needed to disconnect because, first things first, I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important,” she said. “I was going to do whatever it took for that, most importantly. Then, needing space for healing and facing trauma. It’s been tough. It’s been really tough. I’ve been heartbroken and sad.”
She described the end of her relationship with Artem as a devastating surprise. “I never saw it coming,” Nikki admitted, calling their romance a “great love story turned terrible.” She revealed that she had kept up appearances for the public, even though their struggles had been ongoing for some time. “Things haven’t been great for a long time. I really played it up that things were a lot better than what they were in the public eye,” she confessed.
The alleged domestic violence incident involved claims that Artem placed his hands on Nikki’s chest near her sternum, pressing so hard she felt suffocated. Nikki said she grabbed his neck to push him off. Artem’s lawyer, Ilona Antonyan, has denied the allegations, asserting that Artem was not the aggressor.
Addressing the controversy, Nikki said, “When you know the truth, nothing else matters. Because I know the truth and I actually lived it, it didn’t have a big effect on me because people weren’t there that day. People don’t know what I’ve gone through, what I am going through.”
Despite the pain, Nikki emphasized her focus on Matteo and her hope for a better dynamic with Artem moving forward. “In the end, we weren’t bringing the best out in each other. We probably should have walked away a long time ago so in the end what happened, would not have happened,” she reflected.
Nikki also shared her determination to move on and prioritize her son’s well-being. “I want to remain strong for Matteo,” she said. “I’m over hiding, and I just want to live my life.”
WATCH: Nikki Bella Without Clothes (2022):
