What's Inside?
- Nikki Garcia praises Artem Chigvintsev for his support and flexibility in co-parenting their son Matteo.
- Despite past divorce drama, the former couple now focus on Matteo’s happiness and stability.
- Garcia embraces her wrestling comeback while navigating motherhood and slow dating.
Nikki Garcia is finally opening up about how life has shifted since her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev. A year after their highly publicized split, the WWE star has offered rare insight into how the former couple is navigating co-parenting their son, Matteo. On her podcast The Nikki & Brie Show, Garcia not only reflected on her return to wrestling but also revealed how her ex-husband has stepped up in ways she didn’t expect.
Nikki Garcia Credits Artem Chigvintsev for Co-parenting Support
During the Sept. 4 episode, Garcia admitted that balancing her wrestling comeback with motherhood has been challenging, but she praised Chigvintsev, 43, for his flexibility. “I have to give it to Artem, who’s been amazing in adapting to my schedule,” Garcia, 41, said. “And I get Matteo almost more, and he lets me. Like, he’s amazing.”
Her twin sister and co-host, Brie Garcia, echoed the sentiment, pointing out, “You and Artem have been a great team.” Nikki agreed, noting that their son is thriving under the arrangement. “We’ve adapted well and Matteo’s thriving and it’s like, all these things. I’m having so much fun. I love this new locker room of women. Like I’m obsessed,” she added.
That sense of stability is notable given the turmoil that followed their separation. Garcia filed for divorce in September 2024 after Chigvintsev was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. He was not charged, but the fallout was immediate. Their legal battle ended with Garcia ordered to pay her ex-husband a $200,000 lump sum and $3,500 a month in child support. Speaking about the outcome, Garcia called the settlement a “steal” and revealed that even the judge acknowledged it was rare to see a woman paying a man in divorce.
Nikki Garcia is Moving on from Divorce Drama
The former couple’s history is complicated. After tying the knot in Paris in 2022, their relationship unraveled within two years. Early custody disputes saw Garcia request full legal and physical custody of Matteo, but the court ultimately granted joint custody. Despite those rough beginnings, the pair now seem committed to keeping their son’s well-being front and center.
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“The divorce has nothing to do with what happened, the incident, any of that,” Garcia clarified in an earlier episode. “Divorce is divorce. Divorce has to deal with the paper — the contract you signed during marriage.”
Today, Garcia appears more focused on building a healthier chapter of her life. She recently revealed she’s open to dating again, though she’s embracing what she calls the “era of slow dating.” For now, her priority remains wrestling and ensuring Matteo continues to flourish.
“I don’t want hate towards Artem,” Garcia stressed. “We’re in a good place right now. I hope we stay in that great place for Matteo because it makes Matteo so happy.”
