John Cena's Love Story: From Public Romance with Nikki Bella to Private Bliss with Shay Shariatzadeh

John Cena, the iconic WWE superstar and celebrated Hollywood actor, has navigated a romantic journey as captivating and dynamic as his career in the spotlight. From high-profile engagements that played out on reality television to a quiet, private marriage, Cena's relationships have evolved significantly, reflecting his personal growth and changing priorities. His love life, often under intense public scrutiny, offers a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of maintaining personal connections amidst global fame.

Cena's first significant foray into long-term commitment was with his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Huberdeau. Their relationship culminated in marriage on July 11, 2009. Elizabeth, a non-celebrity, shared a relatively private life with Cena during their union. However, after three years, the couple decided to part ways, with Cena filing for divorce on May 1, 2012, which was finalized on July 18, 2012. While details remained largely private, reports suggested that Cena's demanding WWE schedule and his deep commitment to his career played a significant role in the marriage's dissolution. Cena himself stated on a radio show, > “I have made [WWE] my absolute life. I don't have a family. I tried marriage once, and I realized my WWE marriage was the one that was going to survive.” Rumors of infidelity on Cena's part with fellow WWE star Mickie James also circulated during this period, though these were never publicly confirmed by either party.

Following his divorce, Cena entered his most publicly scrutinized relationship with fellow WWE star Nikki Bella (Nicole Garcia). Their romance began in November 2012 and quickly became a focal point of WWE's reality television series, Total Divas and Total Bellas, offering fans an unprecedented look into their lives. As a wrestling power couple, their relationship was often intertwined with their on-screen personas, culminating in a memorable engagement at WrestleMania 33 on April 2, 2017, when Cena proposed to Bella in the ring. Despite the grand gesture and public excitement, the couple announced their breakup in April 2018, just a month before their planned wedding on May 5. The primary reason cited for their split was differing views on marriage and having children, with Cena initially reluctant to have a family due to his career demands, a stance that ultimately created an irreconcilable difference between them.

After the highly public end of his relationship with Nikki Bella, John Cena adopted a notably more private approach to his romantic life. In early 2019, he began dating Shay Shariatzadeh, a Canadian engineer with no ties to the wrestling or entertainment industry. They reportedly met on the set of Cena's film “Playing with Fire” in Vancouver, where Shariatzadeh was working. Their relationship progressed away from the constant glare of the media, a stark contrast to his previous high-profile romance. Cena and Shariatzadeh exchanged vows in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida, on October 12, 2020. Their decision to keep their relationship largely out of the public eye has been a deliberate choice, with Cena emphasizing the importance of privacy for their intimacy and happiness. He has publicly expressed his contentment, stating that Shay loves him for who he is and that they share core values, including keeping their personal lives private.

Over the years, Cena has also been briefly linked or rumored to be with other personalities, including AJ Lee in 2012 and Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria) in his earlier career. However, these connections were either brief, unconfirmed, or largely kept out of the public domain, overshadowed by his more significant and openly acknowledged relationships. His journey through love, from his high school sweetheart to a fellow wrestling icon and now a private, stable partnership, underscores a personal evolution. Cena's romantic history reflects a man who has learned to balance the demands of a global career with the desire for a fulfilling personal life, ultimately finding peace and stability in a relationship built on mutual understanding and discretion.