John Cena reveals he first proposed Nikki Bella when she was doped up for surgery as smitten couple bask in engagement bliss
Newly-engaged WWE star John Cena waited a year and a half after his first proposal to Nikki Bella to do it again in front of fans.
Nikki didn't remember the first proposal - as it was seconds before she went under anaesthetic for surgery.
The wrestler - who proposed in front of fans on Sunday, told Monday's Today that she was getting wheeled into the operating room when he first asked her to marry him.
In suspense: Newly-engaged WWE star John Cena waited a year and a half after his first proposal to Nikki Bella to do it again in front of fans
'When they put her under I made sure to be the last one to wheel her to the OP and right at the moment of no return I stopped the doctors and leaned down and I asked if you could hear me.
'She said: "Yes", and I said, "I have one question for you." She said, "what?" and I said, "You know one day I'm going to marry you.'
Nikki admitted that she didn't remember the moment and had been asking the hunk for a year and a half what he had talked about at that moment.
Second time lucky: Nikki didn't remember the first proposal - as it was seconds before she went under anaesthetic for surgery
The pro-wrestler got down on one knee to propose to his longtime girlfriend in front of thousands at WrestleMania 33 on Sunday night.
The moment took place right after Cena and Bella defeated foes The Miz and Maryse, who are a married couple in real life, in a tag team match in the ring.
After winning the Sunday match, Cena launched into an emotional speech.
Ring bearer: The wrestler - who proposed in front of fans on Sunday, told Monday's Today that she was getting wheeled into the operating room when he first asked her to marry him
Surprise! Nikki admitted that she didn't remember the moment and had been asking the hunk for a year and a half what he had talked about at that moment
Delighted: Nikki talked of her surprise at the proposal
Cuddled up: The couple looked loved up as they announced that they will be getting married
The powerfully built wrestler began: 'This is what you wanted over a year ago.
'You broke your neck and did everything you could to come back because you wanted a WrestleMania moment. I'm so very proud of you.'
'Right before your surgery, there would be a time when you would be a little loopy and I could ask you anything I wanted.
'If you gave me an honest answer, you wouldn't remember what you said. After a year and half, you asked me all the time.
'I promised I would tell you when the time is right. The time is right.'
He said: 'You were kinda glassy, in and out. At the last moment, I said, "Can you hear me?" You said, "Yes." I said, "I only have one question." You said, "What is it?"'
Major step: Pro wrestler John Cena got down on one knee to propose to his longtime girlfriend Nikki Bella in front of thousands
'Do you know one day I'm going to marry you? And you said, "Yes."
'I just need you to say yes one more time.'
The 39-year-old wrestling star then produced an engagement ring box as he stooped down on one knee.
He said: 'I've been waiting so long to ask you this. Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace, will you marry me?'
Will you? Nikki posted this image with the message 'A dream come true! My Prince Charming has made me his Queen in a place we call home. I'll never, ever forget this moment!'
Bella, who has dated Cena since 2012, answered him with a kiss.
Bella's twin sister and fellow wrestler Brie Bella posted a message about the engagement on Sunday.
Using the twins' Twitter account, she wrote: 'Happy tears!!!! They always felt married to me but to see it...wow!!! Welcome to the family @JohnCena.'
Cena divorced his first wife, Elizabeth Huberdeau, in 2012.
He has previously spoken about being reluctant to get married again or have kids, the Washington Post reported.
Victory: Cena hugs his bride to be after she accepted his proposal
Before the tag team match, Maryse had claimed Bella was 'jealous' of her.
In a video WWE posted to Twitter on March 7, Maryse held up her hand, showing her wedding ring.
She said in the clip: 'Nikki Bella is jealous of me because I have this, which she'll never have.'
'That's a hell of a ring,' The Miz chimed in at the time.
Bella, who stars on the E! reality series Total Divas, was asked on the talk show The Real in October 2016 if Cena would propose.
What a whopper: The pro wrestler had picked out the ring
At the time, she said: 'I mean, I think so. The past year he's actually talked about that he's open to marriage, so of course like my hopes go way through the roof.
'So, he's like "Oh, let's go have this romantic dinner, and I'm like "This is it."
'And I feel every moment I'm waiting for it. It's like, it's been my birthday, it's been an anniversary, holidays.'
Cena told Bella in an episode of Total Divas, a clip of which was posted to YouTube in June 2016: 'Would I love to marry you? Absolutely.
'I love you, and I love you more than I've loved anyone in my entire life.'
'What I'm afraid of - and this is the one thing I am very much afraid of - if we were to get married tomorrow, and then you come to the conclusion that you want children, you know where I stand.'
'In no way would I ask you to sacrifice anything for me,' he said at the time.
Sweet: Nikki Bella shared this snap of the couple on Instagram over the weekend, writing 'Him' followed by a heart
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