From Friendship to Love: Check Out Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev’s Relationship Timeline

2017

The brunette beauty and the Russian native first met during season 25 of Dancing with the Stars. The two were partnered up with each other and were sent home on night seven of the competition.

2017

At the time, Nikki was engaged to her then-longtime beau John Cena. Meanwhile, Artem had called it quits with Chicago Med’s Tori DeVitto, whom he dated from May 2016 to May 2017.

September 2017

When asked about her wedding plans, Nikki, who was standing next to Artem during the interview, said it would be cool to learn a few moves from him. “I would love for them to help us out,” she told E! News at the time. “Can you imagine going to someone’s wedding and they just whip out these insane moves?”

Spetember 2017

Artem was on board with the idea of helping out his then-dance partner and her former fiancé. “Well, if John is going to be up for you know, taking some dance lessons, I’m sure we can figure something out.”

November 2017

Two months later, John sort of confirmed he was down with the idea. “As far as dancing, I think he’s probably gonna teach me my first dance,” the wrestler told E! News at the time, referring to Artem. “So hopefully I’ll be able to take those tips from him there.” How awkward!

April 2018

Nikki and John called their engagement off after six years together. “While this decision was a difficult one, we continue to have a great deal of love and respect for one another. We ask that you respect our privacy during this time in our lives,” read a statement the couple shared with Us Weekly.

May 2018

Despite calling off the wedding, the reality star reunited with the actor once again. However, their relationship didn’t last for long.

July 2018

Nikki revealed to the outlet that she was done for good. “After I called off the engagement, we tried to work on our relationship to get back to where it was in order to move forward with our wedding,” she said in a statement on July 31. “After much time and soul-searching alone, and together, we have decided to officially part ways. I had a beautiful and loving six-year relationship with a wonderful man. I have the utmost respect for John, but I know this is what’s best for me.”

October 2018

In October, Nikki confessed she’s not interested in dating anyone. “It feels like, you know, when you get married and the next day people are like, ‘When are you having kids?’ and it’s like, ‘I just got married.’ I feel like it’s the same thing. When you become single, it’s like, ‘Oh, are you dating?!'” she told People at the time. “Honestly, I’m so not interested. I’m just not ready yet.”

November 2018

Despite not being ready, she did try putting herself out there. In November, Total Bellas released a sneak peak of her date with The Bachelorette’s Peter Kraus.

November 2018

“I feel like I’m 15,” she told her twin sister, Brie Bella, as Peter tried to FaceTime her. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

January 2019

Once again, Nikki sparked dating rumors but this time, it was finally with Artem. A source revealed to Us Weekly that the couple had been seeing each other “for a while” now.

January 2019

Not too long after news broke that Nikki and Artem were dating, a source exclusively revealed to Life & Style that the couple share a connection. “They got together for dinner and the chemistry from the dance floor came right back,” the insider said. “They hit it off. They’re taking it slow, but they’re really into each other.”

March 2019

On March 8, Nikki was spotted leaving Artem’s house early in the morning. This created more speculation, especially since neither of them commented on their relationship at the time.

March 2019

If her leaving his place wasn’t enough indication that they were, in fact, seeing each other, their PDA-filled lunch sure was. On March 10, the two were seen getting cozy and kissing in public.

March 2019

Finally! Nikki took to the first episode of “The Bellas Podcast,” which premiered on March 27, to confirm her relationship with Artem. “Yes, we are dating. Yes, I spend the night at his house,” she said. “Yes, we have date lunches at Joan’s on Third and we like to get food for his house — or should I say, produce from the farmer’s markets. So, let’s consider this rumor killed.”

June 2019

They soon became inseparable. They couldn’t help but notice how much they miss each other when they were apart before reuniting in Napa Valley. “Artem flew all the way from London to Napa Valley to meet me at BottleRock,” she explained on her podcast. “I hadn’t seen Artem for a week and a half and I’ll admit during that week and a half, I realized how much I missed my, beautiful, smart, handsome … dancer.”

June 2019

For Artem’s birthday on June 12, Nikki took to Instagram to give her beau a sweet shout-out. “Happy Birthday to a man who not only makes my face smile, but my heart,” she wrote. “You’re a special one, Mr. Chigvintsev! Your relaxing, calm, patient, kind, happy energy and aura is contagious! You truly are the kindest soul I have ever met. Thank you for bringing a lot of sunshine into my life. Happy Birthday, my Artem.”

July 2019

On July 3, Nikki gushed over her bae and his relationship with her year-old niece. “And can we just say how cute is Artem with Birdie?” she admitted on her podcast. “And she loves him … he’s going to make an amazing father.”

July 2019

The pair make their red carpet debut on July 11, at the Kids’ Choice Sports Awards. They were nothing but smiles so it’s safe to say they are still going strong!

July 2019

On July 17, Nikki revealed on her podcast that she and Artem are finally official. “We’re boyfriend and girlfriend,” she said. “We’re in a relationship.” It was about time!

October 2019

Nikki admitted in October 2019 that she and her hunky man began cohabitating. “I was supposed to do a show in New Zealand right when my lease was up. Then I couldn’t do the show but had given up my place, so I was like ‘Hey, can I live with you?’” she told Life & Style exclusively.

December 2019

Nikki and Artem hosted their first Christmas dinner as a couple on December 25, admitting that they spent all day cooking together.

January 2020

On January 3, the couple revealed they got engaged in late 2019. “Excited for 2020 and the next decade with you @theartemc,” Nikki wrote on Instagram at the time. “I said yes in France in November! We have been trying to keep it a secret but really wanted to share our excitement for the New Year!”

January 2020

On January 29, the lovebirds revealed they are expecting their first child together. Nikki gushed about the news on IG, giving her future husband a sweet shout-out. “@theartemc, your pure joy, bliss, love and happiness has meant everything to me!” she wrote. “To already watch you step up to be the best dad for this little one makes my heart smile so big! I know we aren’t husband and wife yet but I love our commitment to this child already.”

August 2020

On August 1, Nikki took to Instagram to announce the arrival of her and Artem’s first child, who was born on July 31. “Our baby boy is here and we couldn’t be HAPPIER and more in LOVE! Everyone is safe and healthy,” she gushed.

September 2020

The Russian dancer told Extra he and his ladylove will “definitely” be marrying “soon,” now that they’ve welcomed their sweet son to the world. “We don’t want to do the wedding with masks … Want to do it when things get better,” Artem told the outlet at the time.

September 2020

“I’ve always prided myself that … I can fight a lot of things mentally,” Nikki explained during “The Bellas Podcast” on September 30. “I’m very strong in that way. Postpartum has knocked me on my ass. This is something that is way different.”

The starlet went on to explain that her fiancé’s demanding rehearsal and shooting schedule amid his Dancing With the Stars stint left her feeling “lonely” and “unloved,” especially when Artem would come home and give their son attention first.

After having a chat with her sister, Nikki approached her beau and talked it out with him. “I felt bad for Artem because it made him feel terrible and he’s like, ‘I wish you came to me sooner … I felt like you were starting to hate me … You could be mean,’” Nikki recollected on the podcast. “I’m not gonna lie, I did have moments of being mean, but I did have moments when I looked at him and I hated him … He was just so sad the fact that I was feeling all these things and I never told him.”

October 2020

Nikki revealed she and her sister moved to Napa Valley, California! “Artem and I already have a home there we’re very excited about, and we downsized as well because the Danielsons rubbed off on us [amid the coronavirus pandemic],” the athlete explained on “The Bellas Podcast.”

November 2020

The WWE alum revealed she and her fiancé plan to start couples therapy when Artem’s stint on season 29 of DWTS is complete. “We’re going to start classes as a couple because we’ve realized that we both feel like we’re not listening to each other,” Nikki told Us Weekly about the sessions, which will be with their trusted life coach. “We finally both just said, like, ‘We need to bring someone in to help us so we don’t get [back] into that place.’”

The decision came after the couple did some work on their relationship following Nikki’s admission she needed “more attention” amid Artem’s busy schedule. “That is something we’ve worked on, and that’s gotten better,” she noted. “Artem and I have great communication, but it’s been lacking, but that’s something that we’ve been so strong about in our relationship [in the past].”