WWE superstar John Cena may have proposed to Nikki Bella before millions of people worldwide, but in private, he set out to design the ring on his own. In an exclusive new interview with The Knot, Bella shares the sweet story behind her dazzling Tiffany & Co. engagement ring from her fiance—and its significance.
“It has a beautiful story, and that’s one thing I absolutely adore about John,” the Total Divas star tells The Knot. “He doesn’t just get these things because he can. Everything has meaning.”
Up until now, the ring was estimated to be between three to five carats. “John and I have been together for four-and-a-half years, and the main diamond is four-and-a-half carats to represent that,” she explains. “Each side has four diamonds. One side represents John, and the other represents me. Each diamond represents the years of our journey [until it] meets at the four-and-a-half carat [stone] where we’ve become one.”
Bella says her longtime boyfriend shared the details with her moments after they defeated The Miz and Maryse at WrestleMania 33, on Sunday, April 2. “He was telling me this in the middle of the ring,” she recalls. “It was so cute, and when we got back from the match, I was like, ‘Can you tell me the story again?’”
Cena took the task seriously. “He designed it and put a lot of thought into it,” Bella continues. “He did it all on his own—picked everything out on his own.”
John Cena and Nikki Bella arrives at the FOX’s “American Idol” Finale For The Farewell Season at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
In fact, the Trainwreck actor was so confident in his choice that he didn’t consult Nikki’s twin sister, Brie Bella, or other family members. “He was right!” Nikki exclaims of Cena’s choice–a round-cut, brilliant center diamond on a channel-set band.
The WWE superstar tells The Knot that she truly didn’t expect a proposal to take place at WrestleMania. “Everyone was bringing it up,” she muses. “I was like, ‘There’s no way my John is going to propose to me in front of 75,000 people and millions tuning in worldwide on the WWE network.’ I just didn’t think it at all. Even my mom and my sister were like, ‘No way.’”
She had no idea what Cena had in store for her that night. “When he started talking and got down on one knee, I was in such shock. Such shock,” she reiterates. “I just wanted to yell ‘Yes!’ But I was like, ‘No, Nicole! Listen to him. Listen to him.’”
The newly-engaged couple is incredibly grateful for the massive support and reaction from fans worldwide. “I’ve been so happy and on Cloud 9,” she reflects. “It’s literally been the craziest few days, but I love it.”
Catch Nikki, Brie and their inner circle on Total Divas every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/PT on E!
