Nikki Bella and Cooper DeJean (Image Via Getty)

Rumors about Nikki Bella and Cooper DeJean spread quickly online over the past few months. Fans started talking after Bella was seen at a Philadelphia Eagles game and shared posts that appeared to show her near DeJean’s locker room area. The internet quickly connected the dots, and many people believed the WWE Hall of Famer and the young NFL cornerback were dating.Now Nikki Bella has finally explained what really happened. Speaking during a conversation with reality star Lala Kent, Bella said she and Cooper DeJean did spend some time together. But she also made it clear that the situation never turned into a serious relationship. According to Bella, the large age difference and the intense media attention made things uncomfortable and complicated very quickly.

Nikki Bella says 20-year age gap made serious relationship with Cooper DeJean unrealistic

During the conversation, Nikki Bella spoke honestly about dating younger men and why a long-term relationship with Cooper DeJean did not feel right to her.Bella explained that the nearly 20-year age difference made her think carefully about what she really wants in life. She said people in their early twenties are often still discovering themselves, while she is already in a very different stage.“20 years younger is super young. I did have different conversations with that one. But I realized that young 20s are young, but late 20s are great,” Bella said.The former WWE star also shared that she values deep conversations and life experiences when building a real connection. For her, those things become harder when the two people are in very different phases of life.“I’m someone who’s obsessed with conversation and sharing experiences. I already know that I need to have someone who’s lived a journey; that’s how I connect,” Bella explained.Bella added that when she has dated men in their twenties, she usually sees those situations as something light rather than serious.“I look at the guys in their 20s that I’ve been with as hookups have fun, make you feel sexy and I never thought of them as more than that,” she said.But the biggest problem came when the rumors started spreading online. Bella said the strong reaction from people on social media made the situation uncomfortable and changed the way things felt between them.“It was the media, because they made a big deal about this age gap. Some people came at me and called me a groomer and a grandma. It ruined things for sure. Even something fun, because it made me feel really weird. I don’t like this kind of attention at all. It’s hard when they are professional athletes,” Bella said.Even so, Bella made sure to speak kindly about the Philadelphia Eagles cornerback. “So Cooper because obviously that’s the one I made headlines with an incredible guy. He’s amazing, but we just have a big age gap,” she said.The speculation began in late 2025 after Bella attended an Eagles game and shared social media content that fans believed showed her in DeJean’s locker room area. Their online interactions added even more fuel to the rumors.Earlier in 2026, Bella told paparazzi at a Philadelphia airport that she was single and simply “having fun.” Around the same time, DeJean also played down the rumors during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.With Bella now speaking openly about the situation, it appears the rumored connection between the two never grew into a serious relationship.