News | Entertainment
6 Mar 2026 10:41
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Artem Chigvintsev claims Nikki Garcia was the aggressor in their August 29th fight

    Nikki, 40, was recently granted a restraining order against her husband after she submitted a sworn declaration detailing the alleged abuse she suffered during their fight last month


    In her petition, which was obtained by TMZ, Nikki alleged Artem "tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present."

    However, Artem has responded in his own court filing, blaming Nikki for the fight.

    E! News has obtained pictures he shared with the court detailing alleged injuries to his neck, elbow, and hand.

    He claimed that he brought their son Matteo upstairs to protect him after Artem and Nikki had an argument which escalated.

    He alleged she then shoved her way inside the room where he and Matteo were and began attacking him.

    He said he made the original 911 call and claimed Nikki said: " Do you understand how this is gonna go now Artem? You just ruined my career and you know it."

    Meanwhile, Nikki has claimed that since Artem, 42, was dropped from 'Dancing with the Stars', he had grown "increasingly angry", often "snapping" and "yelling" at her, and they had had discussions about him needing to control his anger.

    On the morning of his arrest, Nikki claimed he screamed at her for making their four-year-old son Matteo a "picky eater" and rowed with her over how the little boy's English muffin should be toasted.

    Becoming overwhelmed, Nikki threw Matteo's shoes towards Artem and they hit his leg, before he grabbed Matteo and ran upstairs with him while the youngster screamed out for his mom.

    The 'Total Bellas' star claimed that as she tried to get in the room, Artem opened the door and tackled her to the ground, grabbing her arms and holding her down for around 30 seconds before he went back into Matteo's room and closed the door.

    When she tried again to push it open, the dancer allegedly came back out and pushed her across the hall to their bedroom, forcing her to the floor in their bathroom. Nikki claimed she felt like she was suffocating as Artem had his hands on her chest and was pressing down, so she grabbed at his neck in an attempt to get him off.

    The judge has prohibited Artem from contacting or going within 100 yards of Nikki and Matteo, except for visitation or exchange of the little boy as per court-ordered visits.

    A judge denied a request from the former wrestler to leave the US with Matteo as she wanted to go to London to film a project but it will be reviewed at a full hearing on 21 October.

    Although Artem hasn't been living in the family home since his arrest, the judge would not grant a "move-out order" until after the next hearing.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     06 Mar: Zendaya has married Tom Holland in secret, according to her stylist Law Roach
     06 Mar: Sinners was the big winner at the Actor Awards
     06 Mar: Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez didn't attend the Actor Awards after the death of Martin's daughter Katherine
     06 Mar: Harrison Ford teared up as he received his Life Achievement Award at the Actor Awards on Sunday (01.03.26)
     06 Mar: Tina Fey is reportedly hosting the launch episode of Saturday Night Live UK
     06 Mar: Rebecca Adlington has given birth to a baby girl - following two miscarriages
     06 Mar: Matthew Lillard wants to go "back in time" to take a Ghostface mask from the set of Scream
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes newly appointed All Blacks mentor Dave Rennie has time to deliver at next year's World Cup More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Consumer spending has increased in February, signalling a positive recovery within the retail sector More...



     Today's News

    National:
    Who is Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s presumed next supreme leader? And would he bring change – or more brutal suppression? 10:37

    Entertainment:
    Zendaya has married Tom Holland in secret, according to her stylist Law Roach 10:35

    National:
    New modelling shows renewable electricity can meet NZ’s future demand – without importing gas 10:27

    Living & Travel:
    Emirates will be running a pair of flights out of Dubai to New Zealand tonight 10:27

    National:
    Fertiliser costs are soaring amid war in the Middle East. Will your grocery bill follow? 10:17

    National:
    Hezbollah - degraded, weakened but not yet disarmed - destabilizes Lebanon once again 10:07

    International:
    Beirut under threat in rapidly widening war as Israel threatens to 'bring hell' on Lebanese capital 10:07

    Business:
    Consumer spending has increased in February, signalling a positive recovery within the retail sector 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Sinners was the big winner at the Actor Awards 10:05

    International:
    Donald Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem 9:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd