John Cena has reflected on a relationship moment that, by his own admission, went very wrong — after he failed to tell then-fiancée Nikki Bella about a graphic sex scene he filmed with comedian Amy Schumer in the 2015 film Trainwreck.
The WWE star said he avoided bringing it up until the last possible moment, a decision he later described as a mistake.
The Film Role That Sparked Relationship Tension
Cena appeared in the romantic comedy Trainwreck, playing a gym-obsessed character involved in a sexual encounter with Schumer’s lead role.
The scene, which includes explicit dialogue and intimacy, later became a talking point in interviews and behind-the-scenes discussions.
Schumer previously joked about the filming process, while Cena clarified he wore a modesty garment during production.
Why He Kept It From Nikki Bella
Cena admitted he delayed telling Bella about the role because he initially didn’t think he would get it — and then struggled to bring it up once he did.
“I kept putting it off… I got it and I couldn’t say no,” he explained. “So I kinda walked in one day and just said, ‘Hey, I’m doing this!’ And that was the wrong approach.”
He later acknowledged that he should have been more upfront earlier in the process.
“Red Hell Fire” Reaction
Cena has previously described Bella’s reaction as far from calm when he finally told her.
He joked that her expression changed instantly when she learned the details.
“She has such beautiful brown eyes, and they glowed with red hell fire,” he said during a late-night interview.
He added that the conversation quickly escalated, calling it a “bad approach” in hindsight.
Bella Later Spoke About the Impact
Nikki Bella later said the scene had an emotional effect on her while the couple were still together, claiming it made her uncomfortable watching the film.
The pair eventually ended their engagement in 2019 after several years together, later saying they wanted different futures.
Life After the Split
Since the breakup, Cena has moved on and married Shay Shariatzadeh in 2020.
Bella has also continued her career in wrestling, media, and reality television.
