5 Shocking Details About Nikki Garcia And Artem Chigvintsev's Divorce And Co-Parenting Life

The whirlwind romance between former WWE superstar Nikki Garcia (formerly Nikki Bella) and professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev has officially reached its dramatic conclusion. As of late 2024, the couple, who met on *Dancing with the Stars* and shared a spectacular 2022 wedding in Paris, finalized their divorce. The latest news in December 2025 is dominated by the fallout from the settlement, the ongoing co-parenting dynamic for their son Matteo, and Nikki's candid explanations about the financial and emotional toll of the split. The public narrative shifted from a fairytale wedding captured in the E! special *Nikki Bella Says I Do* to a contentious legal battle involving custody requests and a significant financial settlement. Despite the initial shock, both Nikki and Artem have publicly committed to a unified front for the sake of their son, Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev, maintaining that they are a "great team" when it comes to raising their child. This article breaks down the most recent, crucial, and often surprising details of their post-marital life.

The Biographical Profiles of Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev

The two central figures in this high-profile divorce come from starkly different professional worlds, a contrast that defined much of their public relationship and reality television presence.

Artem Chigvintsev: The Professional Ballroom Dancer

• Full Name: Artem Vladimirovich Chigvintsev
• Date of Birth: June 12, 1982 (Age 43 in 2025)
• Birthplace: Izhevsk, Russia (former Soviet Union)
• Nationality: Russian-born American
• Profession: Professional Latin Dancer, Choreographer, Reality TV Personality
• Career Highlights: Known for his long tenure as a professional dancer on *Dancing with the Stars* (DWTS) and the UK's *Strictly Come Dancing*. He was previously a contestant on *So You Think You Can Dance*.
• Previous Relationships: Was previously married to professional dancer Giselle Peacock and had a long-term relationship with actress Kara Tointon.

Nikki Garcia (Colace): The WWE Hall of Famer and Entrepreneur

• Birth Name: Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace (Known professionally as Nikki Bella and now Nikki Garcia)
• Date of Birth: November 21, 1983 (Age 42 in 2025)
• Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States
• Nationality: American (Mexican-American heritage)
• Profession: Retired Professional Wrestler, Reality TV Personality, Entrepreneur, Podcast Host
• Career Highlights: WWE Hall of Famer, former two-time WWE Divas Champion, one half of The Bella Twins (with sister Brie Garcia). Star of the reality shows *Total Divas* and *Total Bellas*.
• Previous Relationships: Had a high-profile, long-term engagement with fellow WWE star John Cena, which ended in 2018.

The Shocking Divorce: Irreconcilable Differences and Custody Battles

The public was largely caught off-guard by the announcement of the divorce, which followed less than two years of marriage and a high-profile reality series documenting their journey to the altar. The legal filings, however, revealed a more complex and contentious split. The couple, who first met when they were partnered on Season 25 of *Dancing with the Stars* in 2017, were married in Paris on August 26, 2022. They share one son, Matteo Artemovich Chigvintsev, born July 31, 2020.

1. Nikki Filed for Divorce Citing "Irreconcilable Differences"

Nikki Garcia filed the initial divorce papers, citing the standard legal reason of "irreconcilable differences". This filing came shortly after a significant event in their lives: an alleged domestic dispute involving Artem. While Nikki has since addressed and clarified rumors surrounding this incident, the timing of the divorce filing—and the subsequent legal requests—suggested a deep rift in the relationship that could not be repaired.

2. The Custody Dispute Over Son Matteo

A key point of contention in the proceedings was the custody of their young son, Matteo. Court documents revealed that Nikki Garcia was seeking full legal and physical custody of Matteo, while Artem Chigvintsev requested joint custody. This difference in custody requests signaled a "messy" phase in the divorce, with both parents fighting for significant time with their child. Ultimately, the focus has shifted to a functional co-parenting arrangement, which both parties now praise.

3. Artem Denied Anger Issues in Court

The divorce proceedings were further complicated by rumors and allegations that Artem had "anger issues," which he explicitly denied in court. A judge declined to order Artem to undergo anger management classes, a small but important win for the dancer, though it was mandated that both parents participate in co-parenting classes to ensure a smooth transition for Matteo. This aspect of the divorce highlights the emotional strain and public scrutiny the couple faced.

The $200K Settlement and the "Steal" Explanation

The most talked-about detail of the finalized divorce settlement in 2025 was the financial arrangement, specifically the reported $200,000 payment from Nikki Garcia to Artem Chigvintsev.

4. Nikki Paid Artem a $200,000 Settlement

News headlines quickly focused on the large sum, suggesting that Artem was financially benefiting from the split. However, Nikki Garcia took to her podcast, *The Nikki & Brie Show*, to clear up the widespread "misconceptions".

5. Nikki's Public Clarity: "I Got a Steal"

Nikki explained that the $200,000 payment was, in her view, a "steal" and a necessary step to finalize the divorce quickly and cleanly. She detailed that, as the higher earner and the one who often paid for the majority of their shared expenses, she was essentially buying out Artem's half of the equity in their shared assets, which she largely financed. Nikki stated that she paid for "everything" throughout the marriage and that the settlement was a fair and necessary transaction to move forward, effectively ending the financial entanglement and allowing her to retain the assets she primarily paid for.

Co-Parenting in 2025: A "Great Team" for Matteo

Despite the challenging and public split, the most recent updates from late 2024 and early 2025 focus on the surprisingly positive co-parenting relationship between the former couple. Nikki Garcia has been vocal about the difficulty of adjusting to life as a single mother and the emotional healing required after the divorce. She admitted that co-parenting is "extremely difficult" at times, especially in the early stages. However, both she and Artem have emphasized their commitment to their son, Matteo. Nikki has stated that they "make a great team" when it comes to raising the 4-year-old, prioritizing his well-being above all else. Artem Chigvintsev has echoed this sentiment, expressing his hope for a friendly future with his ex-wife. In an interview, he stated that he believes "everybody can end up being friends," indicating a desire for an amicable and supportive post-divorce relationship for Matteo's sake. The couple's ability to transition from a romantic partnership to a functional co-parenting unit is a testament to their shared love for their son and their maturity in handling a high-stakes public divorce.