Nikki Garcia Breaks Silence On Divorce From Artem Chigvintsev

The retired WWE star returned to her podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Present,” on Monday, December 2, after a three-month hiatus. Her return follows the November 21 decision of her divorce from Chigvintsev by means of non-public mediation. The divorce submitting got here after Chigvintsev’s August 28 arrest on suspicion of corporal damage to a partner, which reportedly prompted Garcia to take authorized motion.

Whereas Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev have acknowledged they aren’t on pleasant phrases, they’ve dedicated to engaged on their co-parenting relationship for the sake of their son.

Nikki opened the episode with a heartfelt introduction, admitting she would “strive my finest to not get too emotional” as she shared an replace on the occasions of the previous few months.

“I disconnected from social media, from the world, and I simply knew that I wanted to disconnect as a result of first issues first, I am a mother and my son’s safety and privateness is crucial. So I used to be gonna do no matter it took for that the majority importantly, after which simply needing house for therapeutic, for dealing with trauma head on, all of that,” she mentioned whereas referring to her 4-year-old son, Matteo, whom she shares with Chigvintsev.

“It has been actually robust. I have been heartbroken. Unhappy. You realize, you dream of getting this household and you’ve got this unbelievable love and it simply goes the opposite method,” she continued. “And also you go from having an incredible love story to having a horrible one. And I by no means noticed any of it coming, you already know, so far as, like, what the ending could be.”

She emphasised that her son has been her top priority all through the tip of the connection and the next authorized battle, stating, “I attempted to deal with this complete state of affairs despite the fact that I used to be in a lot ache. I used to be simply making an attempt to do what was finest for everybody.”

“I do need to proceed to guard Mateo in these methods as a result of that is what’s been the toughest half about all this,” she continued. “And that is been so heartbreaking. I did not know that your coronary heart can break that many occasions in such a brief time frame.”

Talking on her relationship with the “Dancing With the Stars” alum, Nikki admitted, “When it got here to our relationship, it is unhappy. Like, it simply hasn’t been nice for a very long time. And I actually performed it up [that] issues had been so much higher than what they had been within the public eye, which I’ve regrets in that as a result of what I felt was, like, if I can simply put this particular person on a pedestal and perhaps if this particular person hears it sufficient, what I imagine in them, they’ll imagine that in themselves.”

“I did not wanna have one other failed public relationship,” she added, referring to her time with John Cena. “And greater than any of that, take it away, like, I needed it for Matteo. You realize, it is it at all times comes again to him. You combat to your children. We must always have most likely walked away a very long time in the past. So ultimately, what occurred would not have occurred.”

Nikki admitted that it has been a “wrestle” coping with the messy divorce, particularly within the public eye as a result of persons are being “fed lies” about her.

“However as a result of I do know the reality and I really lived it, it had it did not have an enormous impact on me as a result of individuals weren’t there that day,” the WWE alum mentioned. “Individuals do not know what I’ve gone by means of to what I’m going by means of, and also you’re at all times going to have individuals simply assume issues and say issues, after which, you already know, after they get fed lies, you are gonna have individuals additionally imagine issues. All I have to do is deal with my therapeutic. I have to deal with Matteo’s therapeutic.”

Nikki Garcia beforehand requested “privateness for her and her household” in a press release to PEOPLE following her divorce submitting, and she or he has continued to emphasise the significance of privateness throughout this difficult time.

Artem Chigvintsev additionally launched a press release to PEOPLE after it was confirmed that no prison prices could be filed towards him following his August arrest. He expressed feeling “extremely relieved and grateful that the home violence prices towards me have been dropped” and added, “I’m grateful that the reality has prevailed.” Each events seem targeted on shifting ahead whereas navigating their separate lives.