A married man. Artem ChigvintsevHis relationship with his wife Nikki Bella completely changed when they tied the knot last month — and he couldn’t be happier.
“Because we’ve been together for quite some time, I [felt] like, ‘Hey, getting married’s not gonna change much,’” the Dancing With the Stars40 Pro, told Us WeeklyOnly on Thursday, September 8, just two weeks after we announced the happy news. “Just because … our days are still the same. [But]It is true! [change everything].”
Explaining that his wedding band symbolizes a major commitment, Total Bellas alum, 38, Chigvintsev continued, “It just gives you more of [a feeling of being]It is full of responsibilities. … [I]It is a good feeling to be able to think more clearly than I did before. It feels good to be married.”
The ballroom dancer gushed that he and Bella had been “waiting for this for a long time,” and are enjoying life as newlyweds. “It’s been a long time coming and … I’m excited, you know, wearing this on my hand.”
Bella and Chigvintsev were surrounded by their families and friends when they announced that they had tied to Paris in late August. “We said I DO, can’t wait to share the entire journey with you all when our four-part special event, Nikki Bella Says I Do premieres on @eentertainment,” the “Bellas Podcast” host wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside two photos from the big day. Nikki’s sister, Brie Bella, gushed that the wedding was “so magical and beautiful!!!!” in the comments of her post.
A little over a week later, the twins opened their hearts on a podcast episode. “Using the word husband, I’m like, ‘Oh, my god. Yeah. He is my husband,’” the former professional wrestler confessed while speaking with Brie, 38. “Artem literally gets so red and shy and blushes when I call him [my]Talk about the ring with your husband. It’s so cute.”
Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards at Barker Hanger in Los Angeles on July 11, 2019. Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock
Chigvintsev met Nikki when they were first partners on season 25. Dancing With the Stars2017 They began dating in January 2019, and they announced their engagement in 2017. They welcomed Matteo to their family in May 2020.
The couple faced many challenges in the year leading to the wedding. Chigvintsev was competing on season 30 of the dance competition in 2021.
“This is the longest we haven’t seen each other. We went six to seven more weeks. [apart],” Nikki said during an episode of “The Bellas Podcast” in November 2021. “I got AGT: Extreme … [and]Artem and Artem both agreed that Teo goes everywhere Mama takes him. That’s where he’s comfortable, that’s where he does best. And, you know, it’s been hard on [Artem] and it’s been hard on me, too, not to have my man in my bed.”
The California native added that being “raised in different” countries also made it difficult for them to communicate while they were apart. “When you’re away from each other, there’s different time zones. Myself having Matteo and working long hours, I need Artem to check in,” she explained at the time. “Sometimes I feel like the other person, mainly the dads, they get into this [space of thinking] they FaceTimed and that’s great, and they get on the phone and that’s where it ends for them. And it’s just hard when the involvement beyond that isn’t there.”
With the help of counseling and “sexy FaceTimes,” however, Nikki and the Russia native were able to work through their rough patch. “We’re actually in a good spot. We were doing a little rocky for a bit … [But] now we’re stronger than ever.”
