John Cena and Nikki Bella were the power couple in the professional wrestling world. The two started dating in 2012, and five years later John proposed to Nikki in front of thousands of people.
The pair seemed like they would be together for the rest of their lives.
However, a 75-page contract and differing opinions on what they want from life stopped this couple’s love story in its tracks.
After being friends for years, John Cena and Nikki Bella went on their first date. This was in 2012. Nikki opened up about their first outing during an interview with WWE.
The world champion came to pick up Nikki from her hotel and they had a lovely dinner at a steakhouse.
After a year of dating, the pair was in a good place. They even moved in together.
However, the reality show, “Total Bellas”, later revealed that the champion fighter made his ex-fiance sign a 75-page agreement before they started living together.
The cohabitation agreement said Bella would have to vacate Cena’s home with her things as soon as possible upon their potential split.
The document and its signing became a massive part of the former couple’s storyline on season 1 of the diva’s reality show.
In one episode, Nikki expressed her confusion about the contract to her twin sister Brie Bella. Nikki confessed to her sister that she didn’t understand the contract, or why it would be necessary.
It made the wrestler second-guess where she and John stood in their relationship.
One of the items that upset Nikki the most was Cena’s referral to her as “a guest.”
Furthermore, Cena’s contract stated that in the event he asks Nikki to vacate his home, she agrees to do so immediately.
If asked to leave, the contract would require the WWE diva to remove any and all items that belong to her as soon as possible.
Pouring her heart out to her sister, Nikki asked if all she’d ever be to her lover was “a guest.”
John explained that he had a good reason for the contract: to protect his fortune so he could always provide for the people he loves.
This statement about protecting his family made all the difference for Nikki. Eventually, after hearing her then-lover’s side of the story, she signed the document.
Later, in an episode of “Total Bellas” that aired in 2016, the movie star brought up the document again. He likened it to a prenuptial agreement.
In 2012, Cena divorced his ex-wife after three years of marriage.
Explaining his use of contracts in his relationships, the wrestler told Fox Sports that a prenup is like buying a handgun for home defense.
During an appearance on the Today show in 2018, John again brought up Nikki’s signing of the document.
He pegged it as one of the reasons he knew she was the one.
He acknowledged that this contract was stern and abrasive. Cena admitted that he eventually felt bad about making his ex-fiance sign it.
But the fact that she did so “without question” made him realize something important.
The contract wasn’t the only trouble in this wrestler couple’s paradise.
One of the main issues in John and Nikki’s relationship, which they openly discussed on their reality shows, was the diva’s desire to get married and be a mother.
While the “Trainwreck” star could be convinced to tie the knot, he was adamant about not wanting kids. John even had a vasectomy done.
Bella confessed to Us Weekly magazine in 2017 that it took “a lot of therapy” to accept she wouldn’t be a mom.
She also admitted that she prayed John would change his mind.
As we know, Cena did change his mind about marriage while dating Nikki.
After the duo defeated The Miz and his wife, Maryse, in a wrestling match, the “Bumblebee” actor got down on one knee.
He proposed to Bella at Wrestlemania 33 after five years of dating.
“I have been waiting so long to ask you this,” he said in front of the crowd of 70,000 fans. “Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, will you marry me?”
After she said yes, the audience went wild, and the pair embraced for a passionate kiss.
And then John caught the Hollywood bug. The WWE champion became a movie star and began spending more and more time away from his then-fiancé.
In March 2018, Cena admitted to Us Weekly that his relationship with Bella wasn’t perfect and confessed they sometimes go “months” without seeing each other.
A year after their engagement, the oceans of romance became rocky waters. Cena and Bella called off their wedding in April 2018.
The ex-couple made a statement to Us Weekly magazine saying,
Nearly a month after their split, the “Blockers” star confessed his love for Bella during an appearance on the Today show.
The wrestling champion even said he would reverse his vasectomy if it meant his diva would take him back. Well, that’s one way to do romance…
Bella, for her part, told Extra that same day that she was “speechless” after watching her ex’s interview. And then, they got back together.
Us Weekly magazine exclusively confirmed in May 2018 that the pair had reunited. However, even though they reignited their spark, the lovebirds made no plans to reinstate their engagement.
“Nikki called off the wedding earlier this month so she could have more time to make a decision with what she wanted in life,” an insider said.
A few months later, Bella told Us Weekly that she and Cena had broken up again. For good this time.
The “Total Bellas” star said that the two tried to work on their relationship to get back to where it was and move forward with the wedding.
The reality show star made a statement saying that after much time and soul-searching alone, and together, she and John had decided to part ways.
The WWE diva talked to Entertainment Tonight online about ending her 6-year-long relationship with the wrestler-turned-actor.
Bella once said that she and Cena had an incredible relationship. However, they split because the two wanted different lives.
Even though the movie star was willing to start a family with her, the 39-year-old knew it wasn’t what her boyfriend wanted.
“What if he looks at you down the road and just regrets everything, and then you have this child and you’ve built this life. And I remember thinking: It’s not what I want,” she added at the time.
The Total Bellas alum has moved on with Artem Chigvinstev, with whom she partnered on Dancing With the Stars.
Bella and the Russian native got engaged in January 2020 and went on to welcome a son, Matteo.
Cena, for his part, moved on with Shay Shariatzadeh, tying the knot in October 2020.
Nikki and John are still friends to this day. When Nikki and Brie gave birth to their babies, John Cena congratulated the twins.
Bella affirmed that she and Cena would always have a special place for each other in their hearts. “John and I will be tied forever”, the wrestler said.
All Nikki ever wanted was for the movie star to be happy.
So, she’s glad that John found love with someone else and even happier that he’s “kicking butt” in the movie industry.
It is heartwarming to know that there’s no bad blood between John Cena and Nikki Bella. Sometimes, we encounter love that may not be good for us.
This love story shows that it's important to love ourselves first so that we can work towards the lives we want for ourselves.
As the WWE diva said,