John Cena and Nikki Bella’s relationship was once the centerpiece of reality television and celebrity gossip headlines, often celebrated for its glamour, passion, and public transparency. However, behind the scenes, it also revealed moments of tension rooted in lifestyle differences, emotional vulnerability, and personal boundaries. One of the most talked-about revelations to emerge from their high-profile romance was the fact that Cena had Nikki Bella sign a detailed 75-page cohabitation agreement before she could move into his lavish mansion in Tampa, Florida.
The move surprised many fans, and it later became a recurring point of contention both in interviews and on the couple’s reality show Total Bellas. For Cena, the contract wasn’t about control—it was about protection. As one of WWE’s biggest stars and a high-earning celebrity with significant real estate and assets, he had a long-established approach to personal and financial security. The cohabitation contract, which reportedly resembled a prenuptial agreement, outlined various legal and logistical stipulations, ranging from property rights to financial responsibilities in case of a breakup.
Cena addressed the situation during an episode of Total Bellas, explaining that the contract was something he felt was necessary. “This is what my life is. This is how I’ve managed to keep things in order,” he told Bella, with cameras capturing the deeply emotional conversation. “It’s not a matter of trust, it’s a matter of protecting what I’ve worked hard for. And I want to be upfront about everything.”
For Nikki Bella, a WWE star and television personality in her own right, the document raised emotional concerns. In candid moments on the show, she expressed that the agreement made her feel more like a guest than a partner. “It made me feel almost unwanted, like I was being accepted into someone’s life on their terms only,” Bella said. “I understood the logic behind it, but emotionally it felt like a wall between us.”
The contract reportedly covered a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, household responsibilities, behavior expectations, privacy agreements, and financial arrangements. Legal experts have weighed in on the case over the years, noting that while such agreements are not uncommon among high-net-worth individuals, the sheer length and detail of Cena’s contract made it extraordinary.
Despite the awkwardness the document introduced into their relationship, Nikki Bella ultimately agreed to the terms, highlighting her commitment to their future at the time. The couple moved in together and shared several years of life, love, and professional collaboration. Still, the contract was a foreshadowing of deeper differences in how each partner viewed commitment and marriage.
Those differences became more apparent as the relationship progressed. Cena had been vocal about not wanting to remarry or have children—views that conflicted with Bella’s long-term desires. Though he eventually softened on the idea of marriage and even proposed to her during a grand moment at WrestleMania 33 in 2017, the cracks beneath the surface grew harder to ignore.
In 2018, just weeks before their planned wedding, the couple called off their engagement. Both parties released public statements emphasizing love and respect for each other but acknowledging that their paths were diverging.
Since the breakup, both Cena and Bella have moved on with their lives. Nikki Bella married her Dancing with the Stars partner Artem Chigvintsev, and the couple now shares a child together. Cena also found love again and married Shay Shariatzadeh in a private ceremony in 2020.
In retrospect, the cohabitation contract stands as a symbol of the careful balance many celebrities try to strike between love and legal safeguards. While it provided protection for Cena, it also highlighted the challenges that can arise when emotional connection meets contractual obligation.
Their story continues to be a subject of public fascination, not just because of their fame, but because it offered a rare, unfiltered look at how even the most glamorous relationships require negotiation, vulnerability, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about trust, boundaries, and the future.
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