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Why Nikki Bella Missed John Cena’s WWE Retirement Match

By Lyle Kilbane • Published Dec 16, 2025 09:50 EST
Nikki Bella WWE John Cena

The lid has been lifted on why Nikki Bella wasn’t present to see John Cena’s final WWE match of his career.

John Cena brought the curtain down on his iconic career at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th. Cena took on Gunther in his final bout in front of a raucous Washington, D.C. crowd there to pay their own tributes to the 17-time WWE Champion.

That crowd was left stunned when Cena meekly tapped out with a smile on his face while trapped in The Ring General’s sleeper hold. Such was the outrage that the fans in attendance showered Triple H with “You f*cked up” chants as he led the locker room to ringside to pay tribute to Cena.

One star who was notable by their absence was Cena’s ex-fiancée, Nikki Bella. John Cena famously proposed to Bella in the ring at WrestleMania 33 after they had won a mixed tag team match. Bella said yes, but it wasn’t long after that that their relationship, highlighted on the reality show Total Divas, fell apart.

Nikki Bella Misses John Cena’s Last Match

Bella’s whereabouts during Cena’s last match came to light when she took to social media to thank the Philadelphia Flyers and the Xfinity Mobile Arena for their hospitality at an NHL game:

Thank you for the hospitality @NHLFlyers & @XMobileArena Had such a great time! Not the outcome we wanted but such a fun game to watch. Excited for Monday Night RAW to be back in February!