Nikki Garcia, formerly known as Nikki Bella from her WWE days, has officially filed for divorce from Dancing With the Stars pro Artem Chigvintsev, and the details surrounding their split are making headlines. According to divorce documents obtained by TMZ, the 40-year-old retired wrestler listed their separation date as August 29—the same day Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested for domestic battery.
Citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their divorce, Garcia has requested that neither she nor Chigvintsev be required to pay spousal support. The decision to split appears to have been solidified just hours after Chigvintsev’s arrest in Napa, California, on felony domestic abuse charges. He was released later that afternoon after posting a $25,000 bail, according to online jail records.
“Nikki Garcia has filed for divorce. She continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time,” a source told Us Weekly on Thursday, September 12, following confirmation of the divorce the day prior.
While the couple has remained relatively private about the circumstances surrounding their breakup, the timing of the divorce filing and Chigvintsev’s arrest has fueled speculation. An insider emphasized that this is a private matter, adding, “Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”
The split marks the end of a relationship that captured fans’ attention when Garcia and Chigvintsev got engaged in 2019. The two have a son together, born in 2020. However, after several years together, it seems the couple has reached an impasse.