John Cena has consistently been a larger-than-life figure in the universe of wrestling, but his professional life has not been nearly as exciting as the one he inhabits in public. From when he first set foot in WWE to when he became a superstar in Hollywood, Cena has enjoyed his share of highs and lows in matters concerning love.
Though he is currently happily married to Shay Shariatzadeh, his former romance with WWE co-star Nikki Bella was one of the most publicized in the world of wrestling.
Their love story had all the makings of a fairy tale—until it came crashing down. And at the heart of their breakup? Cena’s views on having children.
John Cena started dating Nikki Bella in the year 2012
John Cena and Nikki Bella first got together in 2012, shortly after Cena’s divorce from his first wife, Elizabeth Huberdeau. The two had known each other for a long time as friends, but once they started dating, it was clear there was a deep connection. Bella once shared that their first date felt magical, complete with a fancy dinner and hours of conversation that just flowed effortlessly.
Bella said (via US Weekly),
On my best first date, there was a very big, handsome man with an amazing smile and dimple. He came to my hotel and picked me up as if we were in the same city and took me to a nice steakhouse. We just talked and chatted for hours … That first one went into the second one where we just had an amazing dance in the middle of the restaurant.
Their romance was soon the central topic of conversation among WWE fans, particularly as both were at their prime. The couple also allowed fans into their lives on reality shows such as Total Divas and Total Bellas, where their romance unfolded on camera. Fans witnessed them juggling their hectic schedules, helping each other through injuries, and spending time with each other away from the ring.
In 2017, Cena pushed things further with a grand gesture that got everyone talking all over the world. At WrestleMania 33, he dropped to his knee and asked Nikki Bella to marry him before a crowd of thousands. It was a snapshot-perfect moment—one that could have been lifted right out of a Hollywood romantic comedy.
But while everyone around them was spreading love and excitement over their engagement, cracks were already beginning to appear in their relationship. And before long, everything came crumbling down.
Nikki Bella opened up about why she ended her relationship with John Cena
For years, John Cena had been clear about one thing—he didn’t want kids. He was incredibly focused on his career and wasn’t ready to commit to fatherhood. Bella, on the other hand, always envisioned herself as a mother. For a long time, she tried to convince herself that she could be happy without children if it meant staying with Cena. But deep down, she knew she wanted a family of her own.
In 2018, after six years together, Bella made the heartbreaking decision to call off their engagement. She later opened up about how difficult it was to walk away from someone she still deeply loved. In an interview, Bella said (via ET),
You almost wish it was bad, because it’s so much easier to walk away. It’s so much harder to walk away when it’s loving. I think a lot of women get into that situation and it’s like, ‘But I love this person, but I don’t know if it’s right for my life,’ and that’s a hard thing about life, is we meet amazing people, but sometimes we’re just meant to live a different life.
She admitted that while there was no bad blood between them, she had to listen to her gut. She realized that bringing a child into a relationship where one partner wasn’t fully on board wouldn’t be fair—to her, to Cena, or to the child.
Their breakup came as a shock to fans, especially since they had seemed so perfect together. Many had hoped they would work things out, but Bella knew she had to prioritize her happiness. Soon after, she met Dancing with the Stars star Artem Chigvintsev, whom she eventually fell in love with.
Unlike Cena, Chigvintsev shared her dreams of having a family, and in 2020, they welcomed their first child together. Bella finally had the life she had always dreamed of—one that included both love and motherhood. But Chigvintsev and Bella split up in the year 2024.
John Cena got married for the second time in the year 2020 to Shay Shariatzadeh
Following his split from Bella, Cena took a different approach to relationships. This time, he kept things low-key and away from the public eye. In 2019, he met Shay Shariatzadeh, an engineer, while filming the movie Playing with Fire. Their connection was instant, but unlike his past relationships, Cena made a conscious effort to keep this one private.
In 2020, the couple surprised fans by tying the knot in a simple ceremony at an attorney’s office in Florida. It was a stark contrast to his previous high-profile romance with Bella, but it showed Cena’s new outlook on love. Two years later, they held a second, more intimate wedding in Canada, showing the world their commitment to keeping their personal lives away from the media spotlight.
Cena has since spoken about how much he values his relationship with Shay and the privacy they share. He admitted that while fame comes with its perks, some things are best kept between two people. Cena said in an interview (via Today),
She loves me for who I am, and I love her for exactly who she is. We have core values which we both believe in and one of those is keeping our information to us and those extremely close to our inner circle. I couldn’t be happier, but I think a way for us to keep our intimacy is by keeping it intimate.
Unlike his time with Bella, where their relationship was constantly in front of the public eye, Cena and Shay prefer to stay out of the limelight and enjoy their life together without external pressures.
While Cena and Bella’s relationship didn’t work out, they both found happiness in their own ways. Bella became the mother that she dreamed of becoming, while Cena embraced a quieter, more private love life.
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