Nikki Bella has revealed how she’s dealing with the challenges of co-parenting after her divorce.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella married her Dancing with the Stars partner Artem Chigvintsev in 2022. She filed for divorce in 2024, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Nikki initially sought full custody of their son but ultimately entered into a co-parenting arrangement under a court order.
During a recent appearance on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show, Bella was asked how she navigated her high-profile divorce and the co-parenting challenges that followed.
“Well, having two public breakups… you know, I’ve always done the work on myself for many years,” she said. “Brie (Bella) and I talk about it a lot on our podcast. And I used to think, gosh, people always talk about ‘doing the work on yourself.’ But when I went through that, I realized this is why you do the work on yourself — because I felt so prepared.
“I mean, it’s definitely the people around you. Your support system is everything, because every day is a challenge, and you need people around you who are going to give you truth but also lift you up. And I had that. I had my faith more than ever. I knew that no matter what, God was going to lead me through.
Nikki Bella on wanting the best for her son
“It also became about my son. With Matteo, none of this mattered. It was about what was best for him. And one thing someone recently shared with me on Instagram really stuck with me: true privilege is when you have a mom and a dad and a happy household. As long as mom and dad are happy, that is the best privilege a child could ever have.
“Sharing Matteo — no matter what I feel personally — I know that I want him to have those feelings for as long as I can give him that. Even though it won’t be the same household, I have to put whatever I feel aside, because when it comes to parenting, it’s not about me. It’s about them. So make holidays together as much as possible, make as many memories as possible, so he can grow up and go, ‘Well, I always remember mom and dad together. I didn’t know they didn’t like each other. I didn’t know this.’
“Because when I was going through this or making certain decisions, people would say, ‘You should do this.’ And I’d say, no, no — it’s about him having the best father ever. That’s what I want.”
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