The TRUTH about WWE star Nikki Bella, 42, and rumored NFL boytoy Cooper DeJean, 22, revealed by insiders: ‘She’s smitten’
WWE star Nikki Bella, 42, is ‘smitten’ with NFL player Cooper DeJean, 22, despite a 20-year age gap between them, the Daily Mail understands.
For months, rumors surrounding a potential relationship between the wrestler and the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback have been rife on social media.
Rumors initially began back in the summer after fans spotted Bella posing alongside DeJean on the sidelines at Philadelphia’s training camp.
Just a few months later, the 42-year-old attended the Eagles’ 31-0 blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders, where she appeared to have VIP access.
Fans drew to attention to one photo included in the video, which showed Bella sitting comfortably at the locker of rookie cornerback DeJean.
As fans have attempted to make sense of the connection between the two, neither Bella or DeJean have confirmed nor denied the dating rumors.
Nikki Bella, 42, is ‘smitten’ with NFL star Cooper DeJean, 22, the Daily Mail understands
In recent months, Bella has made it known that she is a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles star
However, a source close to Bella has now revealed to the Daily Mail that the wrestler is ‘smitten’ with DeJean, but wants to ‘keep it as casual as possible’ for now.
The source explained: ‘Nikki spent New Year’s Eve with her sister. But it doesn’t mean she wasn’t thinking about Cooper.
‘She’s smitten by him and playfully talks about him to friends. She’s really happy and it’s an exciting time for her – but she is definitely keeping it as casual as possible, for now. She’s just having fun and enjoying the single life.
‘Cooper is in the middle of football season so he can’t do much until it’s over. That’s why they’re keeping it casual and not forcing anything.’
Bella, who previously dated WWE legend John Cena for six years, was seen ringing in the new year at a lavish masquerade-style event at Liam’s Den & Bubble Bar at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
Bella – and her sister – Brie hosted the event which was centered on a curated wine experience featuring their new Napa-based brand, Bonita Bonita. Nikki was overheard saying she plans to live 2026 with ‘no rules and no expectations.’
Just a few days prior, on December 28th, Bella fueled the dating rumors once again after sharing a video of herself wearing a DeJean jersey while attending a game at Lincoln Financial Field.
To add to the speculation, DeJean was had also been seen in attendance at a WWE show in Philadelphia, with wrestler Grayson Waller brazenly claiming in a podcast that he was only there in the front row ‘because he wanted to see Bella.’
WWE superstar Bella previously poured fuel on the rumors she is dating Cooper DeJean
Bella wore a Philadelphia Eagles-themed outfit for a recent Monday Night RAW show
A source close to Bella said: ‘Nikki spent New Year’s Eve with her sister. But it doesn’t mean she wasn’t thinking about Cooper’.
Neither of the high-profile sports stars have confirmed nor denied the rumors.
Earlier this month, Bella suggested that there was nothing going on between the two of them after claiming she has not had in intimacy in a ‘really long time’.
‘It’s crazy because I actually haven’t been touched or done anything in so long,’ she said in response to the DeJean rumors on her SiriusXM podcast.
‘It’s funny when people call me a whore when I actually haven’t had intimacy in a really long time, even think of kissing.
‘I haven’t even kissed someone in so long. It’s, like, kind of crazy. I was thinking of this last night: “Do I know how to kiss?” You know when it’s been so long? I mean, I hope so. I’m about to make out with my pillow to make sure I still got it.’
It also appeared that DeJean was attempting to pour cold water on the rumors this month, after he mimicked Cena’s famous ‘five knuckle shuffle’ move on a teammate.
During a postgame media scrum, he told reporters that the celebration was a tribute to Cena, who bowed out of the WWE.
‘The celebration? Tribute to John Cena, guy I watched growing up. Big WWE guy when I was a kid,’ he said.
DeJean performed the ‘five knuckle shuffle’ in tribute to WWE legend John Cena this month
DeJean has yet to comment on the relationship or the rumors circulating social media
‘So yeah, we had that one planned for a while, I just didn’t get picked.’
Cena and Bella, whose high-profile romance was documented in the Total Divas/Bellas reality series, got engaged in the ring at WrestleMania in 2017 after becoming a WWE super-couple.
Yet they called off the engagement the following year and went their separate ways after six years amid differences over marriage and children.
Most recently, she was married to ‘Dancing With The Stars’ pro Artem Chigvintsev. The couple, who share a son named Matteo, wed in 2022 but Bella filed for divorce in September 2024.
She was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 and has since built a business empire, starring in the hit reality series Total Bellas and hosting The Bellas Podcast.
DeJean, conversely, has kept his private life largely out of the spotlight. He was previously linked to his college sweetheart Steph Wilfawn, a fellow University of Iowa student.
The pair had reportedly been dating since his days as a Hawkeye but are believed to have split as DeJean transitioned to the pros.
