Nicky Garcia Gets Restraining Order Against Artem Chigvintsev, Claiming He Tackled Her 'Multiple Times' During Fight
Nikki Bella (aka Garcia) was granted a restraining order against her estranged husband Artem Chigvintsev on Thursday, The Post can confirm, and she went into detail about the alleged physical altercation that led to her arrest.
In her filing, obtained by TMZ, the “WWE Divas” alum claims Artem “tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present.”
Bella alleged that Artem was “increasingly angry, snapping and yelling at me” when he discovered he had been cut from “Dancing with the Stars.” She claimed the fight started after she became angry over how he toasted their four-year-old son's English muffins and blamed the child for being a “picky eater”.
Bella admits that she threw their son's shoe at Artem, hitting his leg, causing the dance pros to grab their child and run upstairs as the child screamed, “Mommy! Mommy!”
Bela complained that when she tried to enter the room, Artem opened the door and threw her to the ground. She claimed he grabbed her arm and held her down for what she estimated to be about 30 seconds.
In the document, Bela says that Artem went back into the house with their child and closed the door. When she tried to gain access again, he allegedly pushed her across the hall into their master bedroom.
The former WWE star claims that their alleged feud escalated from there.
Bella complains that Artem forced her to the bathroom floor and pressed her chest near her sternum. He said he felt like she was choking and grabbed his neck to get him off of her.
Artem called 911 to report a “medical emergency” at the couple's home before his arrest, telling dispatchers that his wife had thrown a shoe at him.
In her request for a restraining order, Bella alleged that when police arrived at the scene, their son told them, “Daddy hit my hand.”
According to the reality star, this is not the first time Artem has been accused of being violent with her.
Bella said that in mid-2023, her now-estranged husband “grabbed me violently by my waist” to keep her away from their child. She also claimed that she was verbally abused several times by Artem.
The former wrestler said he doesn't want his son to grow up in a troubled environment and believes Artem needs therapy and anger management.
TMZ reports that the judge signed the restraining order, barring Artem from contacting Bella or their child. He is also prohibited from coming within 100 yards of them or their homes unless it is for inspection or court-ordered inspection.
The post reached Bella and Artem's representatives.
Online records seen by The Post show a hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 21
Bella's team told TMZ: “Due to Artem's arrest on August 29, 2024, Nikki has decided to file for a temporary domestic violence restraining order to protect herself and her son. Although Nikki requested that the Napa District Attorney not file charges against Artem because he did not want him to go to jail, he must be held accountable for his actions and must protect Nikki and her son. Nicky's number one priority was always her son's well-being. He is grateful for all the love and support he has received and continues to ask for privacy for him and his family during this difficult time.”
Artem was arrested on August 29 on suspicion of domestic violence. After the charges were dropped, a spokeswoman for Napa County District Attorney Alison Haley told The Post that her office “declined
File a criminal complaint.”
“The decision not to file charges against Mr. Chigvintsev was made after a thorough review of the criminal investigation and a careful evaluation of the evidence presented to the DA's office,” the statement said.
The former “DWTS” pro broke her silence following the decision.
“I'm incredibly relieved and grateful that the domestic violence charges against me have been dropped,” Artem shared on his Instagram story. “It was a very difficult time for me. I am thankful that truth has prevailed.”
Bella filed for divorce on September 11, seeking sole custody of their son. Artem responded with requests for joint custody and spousal support.
Divorce case is going on.