The WWE has taken over the world with their scripted storylines and epic dramas – though sometimes, the biggest and most captivating stories are real.
From unlikely romances to power-couple struggles, the WWE has been the backdrop for some of wrestling’s most famous love stories. A few have stood the test of time, while others have led to heartbreak.
We take a closer look at five WWE relationships that went the distance… and four that crashed harder than a ladder match.
1 – Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
There is no bigger power couple in the wrestling business then that of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
The pair first got together as part of a WWF storyline in 1999 which saw Triple H marry Stephanie in a Las Vegas drive-through, in order to antagonize her father and company chairman, Vince McMahon.
The on-screen relationship quickly turned into reality, with the pair officially getting married in 2003, going on to have three daughters together.
While the pair have largely steered away from public dramas in recent years, their relationship was very controversial at the very beginning – something we’ll address later in this article.
2 – Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch
Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch made their relationship official in 2019, after quietly dating for months.
The romance flourished and the pair got engaged later that year, before welcoming their daughter Roux to the world in 2020.
Rollins and Lynch tied the knot in 2021 and occasionally work in WWE storylines together. The pair also appear on social media together, giving fans a glimpse into their family life.
3 – The Undertaker and Michelle McCool
The Undertaker was undoubtedly one of the scariest ever characters in WWE history, though that did not prevent him from getting together with Michelle McCool.
The pair initially kept their relationship low-profile as both forged their individual in-ring careers.
Marriage came in 2010, with McCool deciding to hang up her boots a year later. Since then, the duo have lived outside of the wrestling spotlight, with both making occasional public appearances.
4 – Edge and Beth Phoenix
Edge, who will also feature in the second half of this list, initially became friends with Beth Phoenix while they both worked for the WWE.
The pair started dating in the early 2010s and decided to get married in 2016 – going on to have two daughters.
Both Edge and Phoenix are Hall of Famers and have previously teamed up on WWE television during mixed tag team matches.
5 – Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella
Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella are another example of a WWE couple that stood the test of time.
The pair first began dating in 2010 after meeting through storylines in the company. That steadily led to marriage in 2014 – just one week on from Bryan winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 30.
Brie, who was also an active member of the roster, decided to step away from in-ring competition in order to focus on motherhood.
Fans got a close look at their relationship when the pair were featured on reality television programmes, Total Divas and Total Bellas.
And four that didn’t….
1 – Lita, Matt Hardy and Edge
One of the most famous behind-the-scenes love triangles involved Lita, Matt Hardy and the aforementioned Edge.
It was Lita and Hardy who initially started dating in 1999 after meeting on the wrestling circuit, with the pair becoming a popular couple both on and off the screen.
When Hardy sustained a knee injury in 2005, he was forced to stay off the road in order to complete recovery. It was around that time when Lita started a relationship with fellow wrestling star Edge, who was also one of Hardy’s close friends.
Hardy found out about the affair and publicized it online, leading to major fan backlash against Lita and Edge.
The WWE released Hardy but were forced to bring him back after fans continuously chanted his name and rallied around him online.
The real-life situation led to a storyline which was full of heated promos, intense matches and genuine animosity – one which boosted television ratings.
Edge and Lita continued their relationship for two more years before moving on. Hardy also put the past behind him, though this remains one of wrestling’s most intense real-life love scandals.
2 – Triple H and Chyna
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are one of the most powerful couples in wrestling, however the foundation of their relationship stems from controversy.
The former WWE Champion first started dating Chyna back in the 1990s, back when both were in their early days of their wrestling careers.
Chyna became an instrumental part of Triple H’s rise during the explosion in popularity of D-Generation X, while their personal relationship lasted for around four years.
The couple parted ways around 2000 and 2001, with Chyna accusing Triple H of seeing Stephanie McMahon while they were still together. While Triple H has never publicly addressed the claim, Chyna previously stated in interviews that she found a love letter from Stephanie.
The complicated situation led to Chyna’s WWE departure in 2001, one which the wrestler believed was influenced by the romantic issues.
While Triple H and Stephanie went on to have accomplished careers, Chyna’s post-WWE era was fraught with issues. The influential wrestler passed away in 2016 at the age of 46.
3 – John Cena and Nikki Bella
Arguably one of the most famous WWE couples in the modern era, John Cena and Nikki Bella went through a rollercoaster relationship.
The two started dating in 2012, with fans gaining more insight into their lives thanks to the reality show Total Divas.
The pair ended up getting engaged at WrestleMania 33 after defeating The Miz and Maryse in a mixed tag team match.
Cena and Bella called off their wedding just weeks before the scheduled date, with the romance ending abruptly in 2018.
According to reports, Cena’s reluctance to have children was the prevailing issue which led to the end of the relationship.
4 – Rusev and Lana
Former WWE stars Rusev and Lana first met while working together for the company. It was a relationship which led to a 2016 marriage.
After seven years together, the pair publicly confirmed their separation and have since moved on.
Unlike other examples on this list, this relationship ended without too much public drama, with the pair said to be on good terms.
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