Artem Chigvintsev Files for Joint Custody of Son Matteo, 4, After Ex Nikki Garcia Asks for Sole Custody amid Divorce

Mar. 15, 2025

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev.Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

Artem Chigvintsevhas responded toNikki Garcia’s divorce petition after the former WWE starsubmitted legal paperwork to end their marriage.

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Nikki Garcia, Artem Chigvintsev, and their son Matteo.Nikki Bella/Instagram

Nikki Bella/Instagram

“At this time, Mr. Chigvintsev will not comment on any pending proceeding,” says Chigvintsev’s attorney Ilona Antonyan. “The parties are focused on co-parenting and working together for the best interests of their son.”

Regarding the request for spousal support, the statement continues, “As a standard practice, the divorce response preserves Mr. Chigvintsev’s financial rights to support and fees. Failure to check these boxes in the responsive pleadings waives the right to seek such remedies. There is no motion pending for spousal support or fees, also known as the Request for Order. The parties intend to resolve all pending issues on mutually acceptable terms.”

Chigvintsev and Garcia both cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and have listed the date of separation as Thursday, Aug. 29.

While it was never explicitly confirmed that Garcia is the spouse in question, Chigvintsev alleged in a9-1-1 call made the same day of his arrestthat theTotal Divasalum threw shoes at him and requested medical assistance.

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia.Artem Chigventsev/instagram

Artem Chigventsev/instagram

At the time, a rep for Garcia told PEOPLE, “This is a private matterand Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

After she filed for divorce, a rep for Garcia told PEOPLE that “she continues to ask for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

While neither Chigvintsev nor Garcia has spoken out about the divorce, the formerStrictly Come Dancingstarpreviously removed his mention of Garcia from his Instagram bio(which includes a bride and diamond ring emoji) before adding it back.

As of this writing, her name remains on his profile bio.

Garcia and Chigventsev met in 2017 when they were paired together onDancing with the Starswhen Garcia was engaged to John Cena. Theysplit in July 2018. Chigventsev and Garcia reconnected later that year andwent Instagram officialin March 2019. They had a Paris wedding in August 2022, but Garcia’s divorce petition shows the date of their marriage as Jan. 19, 2023.

source: people.com