Nikki Garcia Praises Co-Parenting Relationship With Artem Chigvintsev

Nikki Garcia is sharing new details about her co-parenting journey with ex-husband Artem Chigvintsev.

In the Thursday, Sept. 4 episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, the podcast Garcia, 41, hosts with her sister Brie Garcia, Garcia opened up about returning to wrestling amid a time of personal upheaval in her life.

“I have so much passion and love for this business and that’s why I was like, ‘I’m not gonna let people take away from how much fun I had out there and how like I loved every second,’ ” Nikki said. “I was like in heaven. I truly love wrestling. That’s why I’m here.”

Garcia went on to credit Chigvintsev, 43, for his support in co-parenting their son Matteo, 4. “I have to give it to Artem, who’s been amazing in adapting to my schedule,” she said.

Brie chimed in, “He’s been great,” to which Garcia elaborated, “And I get Matteo almost more, and he lets me. Like, he’s amazing.”

“You and Artem have been a great team,” Brie replied.

“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,” Garcia said.

Garcia filed for divorce from the Dancing With the Stars pro in September 2024, after he was arrested at their Napa Valley, Calif. home on suspicion of domestic violence. In May, the divorce was settled, and the WWE star was ordered to pay her ex-husband a $200,000 lump sum as well as $3,500 in monthly child support.

“The divorce has nothing to do with what happened, the incident, any of that,” Garcia said in the May 22 episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, referring to Chigvintsev’s arrest. “Divorce is divorce. Divorce has to deal with the paper — the contract you signed during marriage, the day of marriage, the court before marriage, whatever.”

Garcia later described the settlement as a “steal,” adding that the judge told her it was the “first time in all the years I’ve done this where a woman had to pay a man.”

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The WWE star added that the judge said, “You should be so damn proud that you built such an empire that someone wants a piece of it. Now let me tell you the learning lesson. If you ever get married again, promise me you will make them sign a prenup.”

In August, Nikki said that she is ready to try dating again. “We are coming into the era of slow dating, which means, according to apps, if I was to start talking to someone right now, I will still be in that talking stage by Christmas,” she explained in the Aug. 14 episode of the podcast.

“Slow dating’s in, which I’m like, ‘Wait, Wait, this might be a good era for me to be single in,’” Nikki added at the time.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.