WWE legend Nikki Bella has publicly addressed and dismissed swirling speculation that she is romantically involved with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, who is two decades her junior. The 42-year-old former wrestler made the comments on her podcast after fans linked the pair following her appearance at an NFL game.
How the Rumours Started
The speculation ignited after Nikki Bella, a known Eagles fan, attended Philadelphia's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Lincoln Financial Field. She later shared a video from her day out, which included a clip of her sitting inside the team's locker room at DeJean's personal stall. This seemingly innocuous act sent social media into a frenzy, with followers quickly connecting dots to a potential relationship.
Adding fuel to the fire, 22-year-old Cooper DeJean was recently spotted in the front row at a WWE event in Philadelphia. Fellow wrestler Grayson Waller added to the intrigue by claiming on a podcast that DeJean's sole reason for attending was to see Bella. Furthermore, eagle-eyed fans resurfaced an older photo of the pair together from the Eagles' off-season training camp this past summer.
Bella's Blunt Denial on Intimacy
On the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show on SiriusXM, Bella offered a candid and humorous rebuttal to the dating rumours. She revealed that her personal life is currently devoid of romance, joking about her lack of recent experience.
"It's crazy because I actually haven't been touched or done anything in so long," Bella stated in direct response to the DeJean gossip. "I haven't even kissed someone in so long. It's, like, kind of crazy."
She continued with self-deprecating humour, questioning her own abilities after such a long hiatus. "I was thinking of this last night: 'Do I know how to kiss?'... I'm about to make out with my pillow to make sure I still got it," she told her sister and co-host, Brie Garcia.
Contrasting Personal Lives in the Spotlight
Bella's romantic history has been a staple of reality television for years. She was famously in a six-year relationship with fellow WWE icon John Cena, which ended in 2018. More recently, she married Dancing With The Stars professional Artem Chigvintsev in 2022. The couple share a son, Matteo, but Bella filed for divorce in September 2024.
In contrast, Cooper DeJean has largely kept his private life away from public scrutiny. Prior to his NFL fame, he was linked to his college girlfriend, Steph Wilfawn, from their time together at the University of Iowa. Reports suggest they parted ways as he began his professional career with the Eagles.
On the field, DeJean's career is soaring. The Unanimous All-American was a second-round pick for the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft and swiftly became a key player in their defensive lineup, contributing significantly to the team's Super Bowl LIX victory earlier this year.
