Former WWE star Nikki Bella has reportedly officially filed for divorce from her husband Artem Chigvintsev just weeks after a disturbing domestic violence incident. Nikki took the legal action on Wednesday, marking the latest development in a crucial time for the couple, who have been married for two years.
Artem was arrested for domestic violence
TMZ reported the divorce news just two weeks after Artem’s arrest on August 29 for domestic violence. He was taken into custody for the crime of causing bodily injury to a spouse. The arrest came after an alleged fight between Artem and Nikki, in which the former WWE star suffered apparent injuries to her body, leading to the arrest of her husband.
According to several reports, Artem initially called 911 for medical assistance but later canceled the request. However, the police still arrived at the scene and after seeing the injuries, they arrested Artem, who was later released on bail.
TMZ stated that Nikki started looking for divorce lawyers right after the day of Artem’s arrest and she found one in Evan Craig Itzkowitz. The Hollywood couple has a four-year-old son, Matteo. It is unclear if there’s a prenup involved. The divorce filing doesn’t come as a surprise, as Nikki already removed her wedding ring.
Nikki is currently staying in her family home
TMZ also reported that Nikki didn’t waste any time in reacting to the incident. The day after Artem’s arrest, she reportedly began looking for a divorce attorney, ultimately hiring lawyer Evan Craig Itzkowitz to represent her. Nikki has returned to her family home in Napa Valley, where she is living with her son Matteo. Meanwhile, Artem is staying at a friend’s home as the divorce proceedings move forward.
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Nikki Bella met Artem Chigvintsev at season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. They began dating after Nikki split up from her longtime partner John Cena in 2018. The couple got engaged in 2020 and got married in August 2022. Domestic violence allegations brought their relationship to an abrupt halt and it looks like their divorce could potentially get messy because a child is involved.
