Nikki Garcia Opens Up About Dating Life After Artem Chigvintsev Breakup

Nikki Garcia briefly explored dating again after her separation from Artem Chigvintsev, but had a compelling reason for quickly pressing pause.

In the episode that aired on Monday, June 30, of their podcast “The Nikki & Brie Show”, Brie Garcia asked her twin sister, 41, along with their guest, Charlotte Flair, “Are we dating?” considering both are recently single.

“Brie is aware, I went on a few,” Nikki responded. Brie, 41, interjected, “Wait, a few dates?” or, “You dated a few men? What exactly are we discussing?”

Nikki laughed and rolled her eyes, confirming, “Yeah,” she had been on dates since officially parting from Chigvintsev, 43, in November 2024. She played coy about the specifics of her sister’s second question, saying, “OK. Call it what you will.”

Nikki, who is the mother of 4-year-old Matteo with Chigvintsev, shared that her role as a mom has tempered her eagerness to date.

“At this age, I receive so much love from him that I’ve realized this is all the love I need and desire for now,” Nikki explained. “After a few dates, and since I wasn’t too keen on them, I thought, ‘Why waste time and energy? I’m just too tired.’”

Flair (born Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr), who wrapped up her divorce from Andrade El Idolo in October 2024, mentioned that even without kids, she isn’t keen on pursuing romance through dating apps.

“Since my divorce was finalized, I haven’t tried a dating app,” she told Nikki and Brie. “I prefer meeting people the traditional way.”

Both Nikki and Flair admitted they find happiness in the “dating yourself” approach.

“You need to prioritize dating yourself because you can’t truly love anything or anyone else until you love yourself first,” Nikki noted. “You have to invest in yourself.”

Brie, happily married to Bryan Danielson, praised both her sister and Flair, acknowledging their evident growth.

“It always amazes me to see how people glow after a divorce. Those who appear happier and are truly living their best lives,” Brie observed. “You both are radiating, and it seems like you’re both thriving. You look fabulous, and I can feel the happiness.”

Although Nikki supports the single life that both she and Flair are currently enjoying, she mentioned that Brie keeps “encouraging me to date more.”

Brie pointed out that since Nikki and Flair, 39, were recently in New York City for Fanatics Fest, they must have noticed some attractive men around.

“Don’t get me wrong, there were quite a few handsome men there,” Nikki replied, while Flair remained mysterious about any potential interests.

Nikki first met Chigvintsev while participating in Dancing With the Stars and they began their relationship in early 2019. They secretly got engaged that November and welcomed Matteo in July 2020. Nikki married Chigvintsev in August 2022.

Us Weekly reported in September 2024 that Nikki filed for divorce after Chigvintsev was arrested for alleged domestic violence that month. The charges were later dismissed, and the couple finalized their divorce two months later.

Flair has been married three times herself. She was wed to Riki Johnson from 2010 to 2013 and to Thomas Latimer from 2013 to 2015. Flair began her relationship with wrestler El Idolo (real name Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza) in 2019, getting engaged the following year.

Flair married El Idolo in May 2022 and filed for divorce two years later in June 2024, finalizing the proceedings in October of the same year.