Nikki Garcia Steps Out for First Time Since Husband Artem Chigvintsev Was Arrested on Suspicion of Domestic Violence

Mar. 15, 2025

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia in 2019.Photo:MediaPunch/Shutterstock

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Nikki Garciawas spotted out for the first time since her husband,Dancing with the StarsproArtem Chigvintsev, wasarrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

Garcia may be headed to Las Vegas, where she is slated to co-host Netflix’sChestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef, a live hot dog eating competition, alongside Rob Riggle on Monday, Sept. 2.

The Saturday sighting of the former wrestling pro comes just two days after Chigvintsev, 42, was arrested on accusations of corporal injury to spouse on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Chigvintsev was arrested in Napa just before 10 a.m. and less than an hour later, he was booked in the Napa County Jail. He was released later that day.

Artem Chigvintsev.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

A rep for Chigvintsev did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Shortly before Chigvintsev was arrested, Garcia sharedan Instagram postcelebrating her second wedding anniversary with her husband, with whom she shares 4-year-old sonMatteo Artemovich Chigvintsev.

The Aug. 26 post featured a compilation of videos from her relationship with Chigvintsev for their anniversary, as well as the lyrics to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in the caption.

“This song is our love story,” she said of the hit song. “I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be. 🙏🏼✨.”

“Happy Anniversary@theartemcI love you! ❤️‍🔥,” she concluded the post.

Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Garcia and Chigvintsev first met in 2017 when they werepaired togetheronDWTS.At the time, Garcia was still in a relationship with then-fiancéJohn Cena, whom she split from a year later.

Later that year, the former WWE wrestlerreconnectedwith Chigvintsev, and theyconfirmedtheir romance in March 2019. Eight months later, they were engaged. They married in August 2022 andwelcomed Matteoin July 2020.

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

source: people.com