Following an earlier arrest this year, Artem Chigvintsev has applied for a protective order against his wife and WWE Hall of Famer, Nikki Garcia. The allegations underlying the arrest revolved around domestic violence charges, which the Napa Country District Attorney’s Office later declined to prosecute.
Chigvintsev, in a statement to The New York Post, dismisses the claims that he physically assaulted Garcia during a dispute at their home. He said, “That day, someone was going to be arrested, and it wouldn’t have been Mr. Chigvintsev if Ms. Garcia Colace had told the truth.” In response to Garcia’s accusations, Chigvintsev expressed shock and provided evidence of injuries he claims were inflicted by the ex-WWE Superstar.
Chigvintsev highlighted that during the event leading to his arrest, his main concern was shielding their four-year-old son, Matteo. He added, “I took Matteo into my arms, and tried to deescalate the situation and take him upstairs to his room… I wanted to protect Matteo from her lack of self-control.”
Despite these statements, Garcia continues to assert that Chigvintsev was the primary instigator of their August dispute and has also lodged a counter protective order against him. According to her, Chigvintsev’s anger escalated after discovering he would not be returning for Dancing With The Stars. She recounts frequent shouting bouts, including instances where she was blamed for turning Matteo into a “picky eater” over a toasted English muffin.
On September 11, Garcia filed for separation from Chigvintsev. Their matrimony, which began in August 2022, had recently been commemorated just days ahead of the incident. On October 21, a hearing will take place to review the protection orders from both Chigvintsev and Garcia.