Nikki Bella Details Awkward WWE Backstage Interaction With John Cena; Met His Wife

Nikki Bella’s romance with John Cena was a highly publicized affair.

The pair began dating in 2012 while they were signed with WWE. At the time, Cena was one of the top names in the company, whereas Nikki held a similar position in the women’s division, establishing them as a power couple.

While they had their own storylines, they occasionally teamed up in mixed tag matches. Their first time teaming up was during the March 7, 2017, episode of SmackDown, where they defeated James Ellsworth and Carmella.

They subsequently entered a feud with another real-life couple, The Miz and Maryse, in 2017, setting up a mixed tag team match between them at WrestleMania 33.

After defeating their opponents, John Cena legitimately proposed to Nikki Bella in the ring, which she accepted.

A year later, they called off the engagement and canceled their wedding before going their separate ways.

Nikki Bella Recounts Meeting John Cena Backstage

Nikki Bella called the curtains on her in-ring career in 2019 after a cyst was found on her brain. She, along with her sister, Brie Bella, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020.

She returned at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match after being medically cleared and made sporadic appearances ever since.

Bella officially joined Raw in June 2025 in the midst of John Cena’s retirement tour.

During an appearance on Logan Paul’s IMPAULSIVE podcast, the 42-year-old recalled an awkward encounter with her ex-fiancé and even interacting with his now-wife.

I mean, the first time, like, we hadn’t seen each other in so many years, so it was just like you didn’t know what to expect. So, I think I just…so yeah. And then it was fine. And then it was, like, normal, and I got to meet with his wife. After that, actually then I would talk to them both every time I saw them at TV and then it was like normal, but, of course, the first time, for sure.