Nikki Garcia Spills on Her Reunion with Ex-Fiancé John Cena After They Both Returned to the WWE

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Nikki Garcia; John Cena.Photo:Chad Salvador/Variety/Getty;Jason Koerner/Getty

Chad Salvador/Variety/Getty;Jason Koerner/Getty

There was nothing but cordial vibes whenNikki Garciacrossed paths with her ex-fiancéJohn Cenalast month.Nikki and her sisterBriejoinedKristin Cavallariat the New York City stop of herLet’s Be Honestlivepodcast tour on March 13 and she spilled on how her recent reunion with her ex went when they both happened to beat the 2025 Royal Rumble.“Wait, hold on. So is that the first time you’ve seen John Cena?” Cavallari, 38, asked.Nikki, 41, said she’s gotten that “question a lot lately” and revealed it was the “first time in seven [or] eight years” that they’d seen each other.“It was very quick,” she said of the reunion, as she noted Cena is now a “married man” — he marriedShay Shariatzadehin 2020 —  so she wanted to proceed with “respect.““I was in a circle talking to people. He came to [shake] everyone’s hand. He shook my hand."(L-R) John Cena and Nikki Bella attend the premiere of Blockers at the Paramount Theatre on March 10, 2018 in Austin, Texas.Gary Miller/FilmMagicCavallari was shocked to hear that he didn’t give Nikki a hug, but she confirmed that there was only a handshake.“But the thing was, when he walked away, all the girls were like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I’m like, ‘Shh, shh, He’s married, be respectful.' And that was it.“She continued of the reunion, “That was nice. And it was great because breaking the ice and you know, we just both happened to be back at the same time. It’s a good feeling.“When Cavallari teased her guest and said that “everyone wants you guys to be together” again, Nikki swiftly replied, “Next question.“Nikki and Cena, 47, were together from 2012 to 2018. Theywere engaged for a yearbeforecalling things off just weeks ahead of their planned destination weddingin 2018. Theygot back togetherabout a month later and rekindled things briefly. However, theysplit for good in July 2018aftertheir differing opinions on having a familycontinued to cause strife.“After I called off the engagement, we tried to work on our relationship to get back to where it was, and in order to move forward with our wedding. After much time and soul-searching alone and together, we have decided to officially part ways,” Nikki told PEOPLE in a statement at the time. “I have the utmost respect for John, but I know this is what’s best for me.”Nikki Bella attends as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) presents the 47th annual Gracie Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.Araya Doheny/GettyOf her return to the Royal Rumble in general, which marked her first WWE appearance sinceher 2019 retirement, Nikki said it was “amazing.““To be number 30 at the Royal Rumble is such a dream… It was so fun and unreal.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.It was a much-needed confidence boost, too, following her rocky end to 2024 asshe divorced her husband Artem Chigvintsevafterhe was arrested on domestic violence allegations.“I kept telling Brie like, I’m craving to be Nikki Bella again because she had confidence and the strength in the ring that I crave and yearn for and just didn’t care what people thought about her and all the things. So I was craving to be her again. And so when I got the call I was like, yeah, I need this.”

There was nothing but cordial vibes whenNikki Garciacrossed paths with her ex-fiancéJohn Cenalast month.

Nikki and her sisterBriejoinedKristin Cavallariat the New York City stop of herLet’s Be Honestlivepodcast tour on March 13 and she spilled on how her recent reunion with her ex went when they both happened to beat the 2025 Royal Rumble.

“Wait, hold on. So is that the first time you’ve seen John Cena?” Cavallari, 38, asked.

Nikki, 41, said she’s gotten that “question a lot lately” and revealed it was the “first time in seven [or] eight years” that they’d seen each other.

“It was very quick,” she said of the reunion, as she noted Cena is now a “married man” — he marriedShay Shariatzadehin 2020 —  so she wanted to proceed with “respect.”

“I was in a circle talking to people. He came to [shake] everyone’s hand. He shook my hand.”

(L-R) John Cena and Nikki Bella attend the premiere of Blockers at the Paramount Theatre on March 10, 2018 in Austin, Texas.Gary Miller/FilmMagic

Gary Miller/FilmMagic

Cavallari was shocked to hear that he didn’t give Nikki a hug, but she confirmed that there was only a handshake.

“But the thing was, when he walked away, all the girls were like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I’m like, ‘Shh, shh, He’s married, be respectful.' And that was it.”

She continued of the reunion, “That was nice. And it was great because breaking the ice and you know, we just both happened to be back at the same time. It’s a good feeling.”

When Cavallari teased her guest and said that “everyone wants you guys to be together” again, Nikki swiftly replied, “Next question.”

Nikki and Cena, 47, were together from 2012 to 2018. Theywere engaged for a yearbeforecalling things off just weeks ahead of their planned destination weddingin 2018. Theygot back togetherabout a month later and rekindled things briefly. However, theysplit for good in July 2018aftertheir differing opinions on having a familycontinued to cause strife.

“After I called off the engagement, we tried to work on our relationship to get back to where it was, and in order to move forward with our wedding. After much time and soul-searching alone and together, we have decided to officially part ways,” Nikki told PEOPLE in a statement at the time. “I have the utmost respect for John, but I know this is what’s best for me.”

Nikki Bella attends as the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) presents the 47th annual Gracie Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on May 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.Araya Doheny/Getty

Araya Doheny/Getty

Of her return to the Royal Rumble in general, which marked her first WWE appearance sinceher 2019 retirement, Nikki said it was “amazing.”

“To be number 30 at the Royal Rumble is such a dream… It was so fun and unreal.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

It was a much-needed confidence boost, too, following her rocky end to 2024 asshe divorced her husband Artem Chigvintsevafterhe was arrested on domestic violence allegations.

“I kept telling Brie like, I’m craving to be Nikki Bella again because she had confidence and the strength in the ring that I crave and yearn for and just didn’t care what people thought about her and all the things. So I was craving to be her again. And so when I got the call I was like, yeah, I need this.”

source: people.com