Nikki Bella didn’t feel romantic sparks with Artem Chigvintsev on DWTS while engaged to John Cena

Nikki Bella confesses she didn’t experience any romantic sparks during her DWTS pairing with future fiancé Artem Chigvintsev… while engaged to John Cena

It definitely wasn’t love at first sight for Nikki Bella when she was paired up with future fiancé Artem Chigvintsev on season 25 of Dancing With The Stars in 2017.

In fact, in the latest episode of The Bellas Podcast, the former WWE star confessed she did not experience any romantic sparks during their time together on the hit reality competition show. 

Bella was engaged to John Cena at the time, but they would call off their pending wedding and eventually split for the final time just eight months later.

Already taken: Nikki Bella was engaged to John Cena during her spot on DWTS in 2017

No initial attraction: Nikki Bella confessed she did not experience any romantic sparks when she was paired with future fiancé Artem Chigvintsev on season 25 of Dancing With The Stars

During the conversation with podcast guest Lisa Vanderpump on October 13, Bella admitted she was ‘uncomfortable’ performing some of the more intimate dance moves with Chigvintsev.  

‘I remember the one thing that was awkward for me — I don’t know if you remember in some of [the] dance moves — when their leg had to be in between your leg,’ she told Vanderpump, who appeared on Season 16 of DWTS in 2013. 

‘I remember… it was the first time a man’s leg, other than my fiancé’s was in between mine and I was like, “Whoa!” It was weird.’

Uncomfortable: Nikki admitted to being to feeling 'awkward' when she had to perform intimate dance moves with Chigvintsev on DWTS

Uncomfortable: Nikki admitted to being to feeling ‘awkward’ when she had to perform intimate dance moves with Chigvintsev on DWTS

They way we were: Nikki and John had been dating for about five years when she appeared on DWTS from September to November 2017

They way we were: Nikki and John had been dating for about five years when she appeared on DWTS from September to November 2017

Although there weren’t any feelings of attraction between the future couple, who welcomed son Matteo on July 31, Nikki did confess the DWTS experience created a connection of sorts.

‘You definitely get an emotional bond with them because it is so scary, she explained before adding, ‘I’ve never been that nervous before.’

‘That’s the crazy thing being with [Chigvintsev] now is there were none of those feelings at all.’ 

Sparks would eventually fly: Nikki and Artem started dating about seven months after she and John Cena split for the last time in July 2018; they are pictured with Nikki's twin sister Brie

Sparks would eventually fly: Nikki and Artem started dating about seven months after she and John Cena split for the last time in July 2018; they are pictured with Nikki’s twin sister Brie

Nikki started dating Chigvintsev, a Russian born professional dancer in January 2019, about seven months after she and Cena called it quits.

‘I had a beautiful and loving 6-year relationship with a wonderful man,’ Nikki said in a statement to People at the time. ‘I have the utmost respect for John, but I know this is what’s best for me.’  

Nikki and Artem went public with their relationship in March 2019 and announced their engagement in January 2020. 

Just weeks later, she shared the happy news that she was expecting her first child on the same day her twin sister Brie Danielson made her own baby news announcement.

Bundle of joy: Artem, 38, and Nikki, 36, welcomed their son Matteo to the world on July 31

Bundle of joy: Artem, 38, and Nikki, 36, welcomed their son Matteo to the world on July 31

Nikki would go on to give birth to son Matteo once day before Brie and her husband Bryan Danielson welcomed their son Buddy to the world.

Cena eventually moved on from Nikki and married Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida on October 12 after about a year-and-a-half of dating, according to TMZ   

This past June, Nikki and Artem announced they had postponed their nuptials due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

‘I want to make sure the world is in such a clear space,’ Nikki explained during a Big Demi Energy podcast episode, as reported by Us Weekly.

‘The day I get married, I just want a massive party. I want a bash. I want everything I’ve dreamed of.’      

New love: Cena married Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida on October 12 after about a year-and-a-half of dating

New love: Cena married Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida on October 12 after about a year-and-a-half of dating

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