- Caution - The following article contains details of a domestic violence incident
Former WWE star Nikki \'Bella\' Garcia filed a restraining order against husband Artem Chigvintsev this past Monday after the latter\'s domestic violence arrest back on August 29.
According to TMZ, Nikki submitted a sworn declaration to the court revealing details of the alleged domestic violence incident and the judge signed off on the order. Nikki explained that Artem grew \'increasingly angry\' after learning that he won\'t be part of the new season of Dancing With The Stars and he snapped at her.
On the morning of the incident, Artem snapped at Nikki over the fact that their son\'s English muffin should be toasted. He screamed that the retired wrestling star had made their son a \'picky eater.\' The incident escalated from there and according to Garcia, Chigvintsev \"tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present.\"
Overwhelmed by the yelling, Nikki threw their son\'s toddler-sized shoes toward Artem which hit his leg. Though she argues that the light shoes could not have hurt him. Artem then grabbed Mattero and ran upstairs and when she tried to get into the room, Artem grabbed her arm and held her on the ground for about 30 seconds.
The Russian Dancer went into their son\'s room again and closed the door. When the female star tried to push open the door again, Artem came out and pushed her across the hall into the couple\'s bedroom. Nikki alleges that Artem then forced her to the floor in their bathroom and had his hands on her chest near her sternum. Nikki felt like she was suffocating and she grabbed his neck in an attempt to get him off. When the police came, Mettero told them that \'Daddy hurt my hand\'
Nikki Garcia also detailed a previous incident of physical violence in mid-2023. According to her, he \'violently grabbed me around my waist\' to keep Nikki away from Mattero. There were numerous other instances of verbal abuse.
Garcia wants Artem to get the help he needs with therapy and anger management because she doesn\'t want her son to grow up in a tumultuous environment. She wants her and Matteo to have enough space away from Artem until he has bettered himself.
Garcia also asked the judge if she could leave the country with her son for a filming project in London but the court denied her request. The Judge has prohibited Artem from contacting or coming within 100 yards of her, their son, or their home with the exception of visitation or exchange of the child per court-ordered visits
Prosecutors previously declined to file charges against Artem for his arrest citing a lack of evidence. In a statement from her representative, Nikki claims that she requested the Napa District Attorney not to file charges as she does not want Artem to go to jail but she wants him to be accountable for his actions. In the meantime, the former WWE star has also filed for divorce from her husband.
You can call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for Domestic Violence Hotline or text START to 88788. More details about the issues can be found at US Department of Justice website here.
